BMC issues notice to contractor for delay in installing 16 oxygen plants in Mumbai

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) earlier this week issued a notice to the contractor for allegedly delaying the work of setting up oxygen plants in the city. The civic body has also warned of penalty to the contractor and the company, in case of failure in completing the work on time.

This decision was made by the BMC and the state government amid the anticipation of the third wave.

BMC, in its notice, had mentioned, “Considering the work progress sites, the period of completion .i.e. 30 days was already expired. You are hereby instructed to complete the work immediately without fail, otherwise, a penalty will be levied to you, as per terms and conditions of the tender.”

The proposal for the oxygen generation plant project was approved by the civic standing committee in a meeting held on June 9, 2021. Later, the civic body had appointed Highway Construction Company for the project.

Following the approval, the order was given to the contractor on June 14. Later, on June 16, the sites, where the oxyegn plant would be set up, were inspected. While on June 25, the sites were handed over to the firm. Applications were also made from the concerned suppliers to supply power at the required pressure.

However, the civic body had given them a month to complete the work. But, the work did not start even by July 25.

BMC aims to set up 16 oxygen plants at nine locations in Mumbai. This would cost a whopping amount of INR 84 crores and will generate an estimated 43 metric tons of oxygen daily on the site. These plants will work on the pressure swing adsorption (PSA) technology.

The shelf life of these oxygen plants will be 15 to 30 years once operational.

According to reports, these 16 plants will be set up at nine civic-run hospitals in Mumbai. Of which, two plants will be at BYL Nair Hospital, two at Cooper Hospital, one at Bhabha Hospital, one at VN Desai Hospital, two at Shatabdi Hospital in Kandivli, three at KEM Hospital, two plants at GTB Hospital, two plants at LTMG Hospital and one at Kasturba Hospital.