Navi Mumbai: For the residents of Seawoods, Sector 48-A, the unfinished Hospital built by a trust is more than just a construction site — it is a daily reminder of unmet promises and overlooked needs. Twenty-five years after the project was first announced, locals are still waiting for the hospital to open its doors.
“We were told thoshe pital would bring affordable healthcare to our doorstep,” says Shalini Patil, a retired schoolteacher who has lived in the area since the early 2000s. “Today, we are still forced to travel long distances or pay exorbitant fees at private hospitals. Why should we suffer because of politics and red tape?”
In 1999, CIDCO allotted the land to a trust for setting up a charitable hospital, sparking hope among Seawoods’ growing population. But as years passed and the building remained unfinished, that hope gave way to frustration. “How long does it take to build a hospital?” asks Vishal More, a local shopkeeper. “This is not just a delay — it’s a denial of our basic rights.”
In October 2023, residents, under the leadership of former NMMC corporator Vishal Dolas, staged a peaceful relay hunger strike, demanding either the immediate opening of the hospital or its transfer to the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) for public use. The agitation was temporarily called off after assurances from the trust, but residents say those promises have led nowhere.
“Every time there’s a protest, we get hollow commitments. Then it’s back to silence,” says Anjali Kulkarni, a college student whose grandmother has to travel to Vashi for regular treatment. “We need real action, not more assurances.”
Beyond personal inconvenience, residents highlight the larger public health impact. “Navi Mumbai is growing rapidly, but its public health infrastructure is not keeping pace,” says Dr. Rajeev Nair, a general practitioner in the area. “A functioning hospital here could ease the burden on existing facilities and serve thousands.”
Many now demand that CIDCO and government officials take firm steps. “Set a final deadline. If the trust fails, hand it over to the municipality. This land was meant for public good,” insists resident activist Meenakshi Deshpande.
