Mehboob Studio as isolation facility? No chance, say residents

BMC wants to create a 1,000-bed facility for Covid patients at the venue where classics such as Mother India and Guide were shot

Residents fear a common stormwater drain will bring the virus into their homes; BMC says not yet decided whether high-risk contacts will be quarantined at the studio

The BMC’s proposal to convert Mehboob Studio in Bandra into a 1,000-bed quarantine centre has met with stiff opposition from residents, who fear the move will expose them to pathogen risks, especially with monsoon round the corner. In a petition to the BMC, the residents have highlighted the risks posed by a common stormwater drain that carries the studio’s debris to the residential area.

Constructed in 1954 by director Mehboob Khan who shot the iconic Mother India at the studio in 1957, Mehboob Studio has been the venue of some of Bollywood’s best known movies such as Guide, Sangam, and more recently Chennai Express and Simmba.

With Mumbai reporting over a thousand corona-positive cases every day, the BMC is looking to take over all large properties and turn those into quarantine facilities. A few days ago, the civic body decided to take over the Wankhede Stadium at Churchgate, but hastily abandoned the plan on the ground that it will not be sustainable in the monsoon.

Hubert D, a resident of St Sebastian’s Colony on Rebello Road, said: “This is a low-lying area. Mehboob Studio is at the heart of a residential area, with the studio walls running along a housing society and other residential areas that have many senior citizens and children, who are prone to the virus.” The residents argued that the stormwater outlet from the rear, eastern side of the studio connects to the gutters on St Roque Road. Every year debris (plastic paper cups, plates and bottles) and waste from the studio finds its way to the common stormwater drains, they said.

If the studio waste finds its way to the stormwater drains – “which it will as in the past years” – using the studio premises as a Covid-19 facility will pose a huge risk to people, Hubert said.

Derek Talker, a resident of Mount Mary’s Road, told Mirror that they have suggested alternative locations at MET, which is on BMC land and has ready infrastructure to handle such requirements, with rooms and toilet facilities.

“The other location is 81 Aureate, an illegal building near MTNL on reclamation now in the hands of authorities. It has ready rooms and infrastructure facilities. The expense of building infrastructure would be minimal as compared to creating it from scratch,” said Talker.

Peter Gomes, a resident of St Roque Road, said Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray wanted to allow movie shoots to recommence at the studio. Vinayak Vispute, assistant commissioner, H West Ward, said the proposal is yet to be finalised. “The higher authorities will decide whether it will be high-risk contacts or asymptomatic positive patients who are sent here,” said Vispute.