BMC hopes to have ₹2,764-cr Covid bill reimbursed by govt

In the nearly two years since the pandemic hit the city, the effects, both financial and societal, have been tremendous.

- Sumitra DebRoy

Mumbai: In Mumbai, more than 16,600 people have died of Covid while more than a million have tested positive since March 2020.

In the budget, the civic body has estimated a bill of Rs 2,764 crore on fighting Covid-19 and sought a reimbursement from the state for all expenses incurred. If Maharashtra was the worst-hit within India, Mumbai was the second-worst hit urban centre in the state, Pune being at the top with highest deaths. Experts largely give BMC’s handling of its biggest healthcare challenge a thumbs up, but some also point out lacunas that should be avoided in future.