Shortly after it was forced to shift 168 Covid-19 patients to other facilities for lack of oxygen on the night of April 17, the corporation stepped on the gas to set up oxygen plants in the city. So far, the BMC has spent Rs 360 crore on oxygen plants to cut its reliance on outsiders for the life-saving gas. The plants can last between 15 and 30 years. As cases come down in Mumbai and the likelihood of a third wave appears to be fading, for now, the BMC is saving money on oxygen cylinders that it was earlier getting through private vendors.

Officials said the corporation has already set up nine pressure swing adsorption (PSA) oxygen plants at civic-run hospitals with a combined capacity of 42 metric tonnes per day. It has spent Rs 90 crore on these PSA plants, which separate oxygen from atmospheric air. A refilling plant for Dura oxygen cylinders, which stock liquid oxygen, is also operational at Mahalaxmi.