Mumbai hospitals, colleges to get development funds

Nine city colleges and the hostels affiliated to them will get a fund of Rs5 crore for the development works at the institution. The annual plan of Rs68 crore for the next financial year 2011-12 was passed by the District Planning and Development Committee of the island city on Wednesday.

The plan includes allocation of Rs5.85 crore for the development work at the state-run hospitals. JJ Hospital gets highest funds of Rs1.5 crore followed by St George’s Hospital with Rs1 crore. Other hospitals that will get funds from the district development allocation are GT Hospital, Cama Hospital, Poddar Hospital, Grant Medical Institute and Government Dental Hospital.

With the increased allocation for the tourism development to Rs40 lakh, the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) has planned renovation of its information centres in the city.

“We have information centres at Gateway of India, Dadar station, CST and at domestic and international airports. With the additional funds we can go for the modernisation with big TV screens. We also have plans to have one more centre at Ravindra Natya Mandir,” said Avinash Dhakne, joint managing director, MTDC.

Jayant Patil, city guardian minister said that agencies that undertake the development of the hospitals and other utilities are supposed to ensure there is no clash of interest while spending on same institutions.