As the BMC struggles to improve the city's ease-of-doing-business ranking while grappling with fire safety violations and illegal construction, The Hindu takes a look at what it plans to achieve in 2019.
Fire preparedness
The Mumbai Fire Brigade will be better equipped to tackle fires in the new year, adding a firefighting robot and a specialised vehicle to its fleet. The Hindu had reported in September that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had started the process of procuring a firefighting robot, which will be used in situations that are too hazardous for firemen. It will use thermal imaging, cameras and a fire hose to detect the source of the fire and douse it, and will cost ₹92 lakh. The fire brigade has also procured a Hazmat vehicle to deal with fires involving hazardous chemicals and in nuclear disasters.
Sports facilities
The city will get two new sports complexes in 2019: the 12-acre Bhavdevi sports complex planned in Borivali, and an 11-acre complex at Veera Desai Road in Andheri. Work on both is in the final stage.
Green spaces
As reported earlier, the BMC is in the final tendering stage to create 22 gardens under various city flyovers and skywalks. Most of them will have lawns, shrubs, LED lights, jogging tracks and benches. Together, they will add 3 lakh sq.ft. worth of open space.
Flora Fountain
The Hindu had reported that the revamped Flora Fountain sculpture had been unveiled for Mumbaikars to see. In 2019, the fountain will spring to life after three years, as restoration work is complete. It will be inaugurated in January.
Besides, work on the entire Fort precinct’s heritage street furniture and lighting will gain momentum.
Zoo upgrade
After years of waiting, work to makeover the Byculla Zoo is finally under way. The BMC has allotted work to construct 17 new enclosures for the zoo’s newest entrants: a tiger, a lion, barking deer, otters, antelopes and more. Besides, the zoo has got access to 27,000 sq.m. additional land, which will eventually be used for a third phase.
Digitisation
Though the BMC has not been able to digitise all its files as per government orders, it wants to provide 98% of all its services online in 2019. It also plans to digitise medical case papers in municipal hospitals as part of its Health Management Information System. It will also recruit 274 new doctors for peripheral hospitals.
Animal matters
A veterinary hospital will be built in Mahalaxmi this year. The BMC has already floated bids and signed a Memorandum of Understanding for this. It will also construct a veterinary clinic in Khar. By the end of 2019, the city will alos have three incinerators for veterinary purposes in Deonar, Malad and Mahalaxmi.
