In a significant boost to Mumbai’s healthcare education infrastructure, the city is set to get another Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)-run nursing college — this time in Bandra. The new institution is expected to operate under the administration of Bandra’s Bhabha Hospital. The decision follows a proposal by MLA Ashish Shelar, who, in a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, highlighted the urgent need for a nursing college in the western suburbs to meet the region’s growing healthcare demands.
“The plot of the old BP office, located at RK Patkar Marg, Bandra West, has a total area of 2236 sq metres and is owned by the president of Bandra Municipality. This strategically located plot can be used to build a BMC nursing college with an attached hostel and quarters for doctors and hospital staff. The college will directly address the city’s shortage of trained medical professionals, ensuring a steady stream of qualified nurses for Mumbai’s public health system,” Shelar’s letter stated.
According to a senior Bhabha Hospital official, the plan includes an initial intake of at least 50 students in the first year. “Even with a four-storey structure, the building can comfortably accommodate the nursing college, a canteen, hostels for students, and staff quarters. Since the plot is adjacent to the hospital, it will also reduce travel time for employees. The site is large enough to house all these facilities within a well-spread layout,” the official said.
The building mentioned in Shelar’s letter was earlier classified as a C1 (dilapidated) structure, but is now being repurposed for the project. “It’s better to put such old buildings to public use rather than leaving them idle across the city,” Shelar said.
Demolition work at the site has already begun, and architectural consultations are underway. “We have approached several consultants to assess the permissible FSI and suggest layout options,” said the hospital official. “Once this is finalised, tendering and construction will proceed in phases. The design will ensure seamless integration between the hospital and the new educational facility, providing better hands-on training opportunities for students.”
