In mid-September 2020, when the Covid-19 case count of Mumbai had climbed to over 2,05,100, with a 104 per cent increase in the number of cases when compared with the previous month, it appeared to be a dire situation. All cultural events for the year were cancelled and restrictions on movement were enforced. At the time, the O-word was still not such a cause for concern. “But, one or two cases at the time had given us a hint that oxygen could become a critical issue in the near future. Global trends were showing a similar trajectory. We had to act, and act fast,” says Additional Municipal Commissioner (Health) Suresh Kakani. Even in the lean period, from November to February, the prepping continued in full throttle.  

If the city is able to breathe easy today, with municipal commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal publicly stating that all issues related to oxygen supply under the BMC stand resolved, it’s not without reason. Kakani says a multi-pronged strategy helped them turn the tide in time. “We had decided to keep most of our jumbo facilities, without downscaling. Yes, it meant spending huge money on operations and maintenance. Had we dismantled them [during the lull], resurrecting them would have cost us a lot more.”