In a significant move to help address the financial challenges faced by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray met BMC chief Bhushan Gagrani at the civic headquarters in Mumbai today. During the meeting, Thackeray suggested several measures to boost the BMC's revenue, including levying utility charges on underground cables belonging to companies like Adani and Ambani.
Speaking to the press after the meeting, Thackeray questioned why such companies are not being charged, especially when the BMC's finances are under pressure following the cessation of octroi income due to the introduction of GST. Thackeray highlighted that this revenue generation could be vital for the civic body, which is facing an increasing fiscal burden.
MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande elaborated further, claiming that the levying of charges on 42 different utilities could potentially generate a significant revenue boost of Rs 8,000-10,000 crore for the BMC. Thackeray also raised the issue of patient treatment at government-run hospitals, specifically KEM Hospital, which has a capacity of 2,250 beds but sees over 10,000 patients daily. According to the MNS, over 30-35 lakh patients from outside Mumbai and Maharashtra are treated annually at these facilities.
Thackeray proposed that only individuals with a local address on their Aadhaar cards should be eligible for treatment at these government hospitals. In a memorandum submitted to Gagrani, the MNS called for a structured approach to introduce charges that would improve the BMC’s financial health, ensuring better sustainability for the city’s essential services.