Mumbai: With BMC having failed to commission Gokuldham maternity home in Goregaon east for the past few years, the building has become a den for prostitution, liquor parties and other illegal activities, according to the local corporator. BJP corporator Priti Satam from ward number 52 said, “Lot of illegal activities are taking place in the Gokuldham maternity home building but the BMC and local police have failed to stop them.”
“Despite the maternity home building being ready since four years, it is still lying empty, as the civic body has not been able to commission it. Taking advantage of the fact that there is no security, doors and windows have already been stolen by anti-social elements. I have received complaints from locals that goons hold liquor parties at night in the building. There are also reports of flesh trade being carried out,” she said.
A few years ago, the BMC demolished the old maternity home building and appointed a developer to redevelop the structure. After redevelopment, the developer handed over the building to the civic body. Ms Satam said, “The building is now in a pathetic condition due to negligence on the part of the BMC. Despite complaining to P south ward office and Dindoshi police station several times, no action has been taken so far to stop the illegal activities there.”
Meanwhile, civic officials claimed that the structure will soon be commissioned. Dr Padmaja Keskar, executive health officer, said, “We have planned to start a paediatric ward, which is also part of the maternity home, on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis. But the process was delayed as we were waiting for PPP guidelines to be finalised. Now that the municipal corporation has given its nod, tenders will be issued according to guidelines within three months.”
