Mumbai: In a major push to tackle rising patient pressure, Mumbai’s King Edward Memorial Hospital has revived an ambitious proposal to construct a 42-storey hospital tower with a helipad within its Parel campus.
The proposal was discussed during a recent visit by Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide, where civic officials highlighted the urgent need to expand infrastructure at one of the city’s busiest public hospitals.
KEM Hospital currently handles a massive patient load, drawing people from across Maharashtra and beyond, which has led to overcrowding and strain on existing facilities. The proposed high-rise tower is expected to significantly increase capacity and improve emergency response capabilities.
A key feature of the plan is a helipad on top of the tower, aimed at enabling faster transfer of critically ill patients during emergencies such as accidents or disasters. The vertical expansion is seen as a solution to space constraints in the densely built hospital परिसर.
However, the project faces a major hurdle. The KEM hospital complex is classified as a Grade II-A heritage site, which means any development must preserve its architectural character. This restriction allows only limited modifications, making the approval process more complex.
Officials indicated that the proposal is still in the early planning stage and will require clearances from heritage authorities before moving forward.
If approved, the project could mark a significant transformation in Mumbai’s public healthcare infrastructure, combining modern facilities with high-rise hospital design to better manage growing patient demand.
