Mumbai News: KEM Hospital To Become First Municipal Hospital In India With Helipad As Part Of New 21-Storey Building

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) run KEM hospital in Parel is set to become first municipal hospital in the country to have a helipad. The helipad is planned on the top floor of the proposed new hospital building next to existing KEM hospital premises, which was announced recently during centenary year celebration of the hospital.

"The proposal to have a helipad have recieved administrative approval and and municipal architects are working on final designs," Dean of KEM hospital, Dr Sangeeta Ravat said.

The hospital aims to construct it's new building with advance infrastructure and medical facilities with a long-term approach. "We have expertise. The Britishers built this hospital on a huge land, thinking of future needs. We also need to plan for 50-years ahead and want to make KEM a go-to hospital for common man as well as VIPs. The facilities like helipad would be most useful for emergency patients, who are transported from other cities as well as for organ donation," said a senior doctor from KEM hospital.

Speaking with The Free Press Journal, Municipal Architect Durgesh Palkar said, "We have already made conceptual plans. The new building is near heritage precinct. Regarding height and other permissibility, we are concerning with other departments for approvals."

"The hospital will need shifting of some existing services to the new building. We are studying the requirements and accordingly a plan will be freezed on number of floors the building will have," Palkar added.

The new KEM hospital building will be constructed on around 2,500 sq mt land next to existing premises. The new building will have two connected access.

The land also has come dilapidated structures, which needs to be demolished. However, Palkar said that the work will be done taking outmost care considering the heritage precinct.

During the centenary year celebrations of KEM hospital in January, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that KEM is an important medical institution, not only in Mumbai but across the country. Fadnavis also laid the foundation stone for a new 21-storey building.

Deputy CM Eknath Shinde announced plans for the construction of the Ayushman Shatabdi Tower to address the space constraints faced by the hospital and also ensure that the hospital can continue to serve the growing number of patients effectively.

"As we celebrate 100 years of excellence, it's imperative that we also look to the future. The Ayushman Shatabdi Tower will ensure we can accommodate more patients and continue providing top-notch medical care," Shinde had said during the event.