Mumbai: The BMC Improvements Committee on Friday approved the appointment of Jain International Organisation (JIO) to operate and manage a hostel for female students aged 18 and above in Akurli village in Kandivli East.JIO was recently in the news over protests challenging the Maharashtra government’s decision to hand over Wilson Gymkhana ground lease to the organisation in 2024.The BMC’s planning department had invited expressions of interest (EOIs) from organisations willing to operate and manage the ground-plus-five-storey hostel built on a 17,680 sq ft plot. The building has 45 rooms, with a 135-bed capacity of 135 beds. After extending the submission deadline until December 19, 2025, proposals were received from four organisations: JIO, Nari Shahar Samuh, Parivartan Mahila Sanstha, and Jain International Trade Organisation. After verification by a committee, JIO was selected based on its 11 years of experience in running hostels for girls, the administration stated.JIO will be responsible for providing accommodation facilities such as beds, mattresses, pillows and bed sheets. In addition, it will manage dining facilities and ensure the provision of nutritious meals for students. According to the terms, JIO will pay a licence fee of Rs 5 per sq ft per month, amounting to a total of Rs 88,400 per month. The lease will initially be for a period of 11 months and may be renewed for another 11 months, up to a total of 20 renewals, without requiring additional formalities. As per the conditions, students can be charged a maximum monthly fee of Rs 2,500 for hostel, excluding meal charges. However, members of opposition opposed the BMC move, stating that they were not allowed to discuss the issue in the committee.Congress group leader Ashraf Azmi said, “We are not opposed to any particular organisation, but we oppose handing over of BMC facilities, premises, or land to private entities and even the auctioning of civic land.” “Whenever civic land or premises have fallen into private hands, it has not benefited the common man and has instead been used for commercial or other purposes. Why does the BMC want to hand over its facilities to private organisations? There are many top-class NGOs working in the city, so how come only four participated? We were not allowed to speak on the issue,” he added.
