Not a pleasant stay anymore at Himachal Mitra Mandal Bhawan, Mumbai

Mumbai: Relied upon by most visitors from Himachal as a home away from home, in metropolis Mumbai, the Himachal Mitra Mandal Bhawan has not only hiked up rates but the hygiene standards have dropped to make the place unlivable at places.

With the city having no Himachal Bhawan, like the one at Delhi or Chandigarh, students, job seekers, employees on transfer and cancer patients knocking the doors of the country leading institute, the Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital, are the people who mostly rely upon the affordable staying charges at the Himachal Mitra Mandal Bhawan.

Himachal Mitra Mandal Bhawan, Mumbai
Himachal Mitra Mandal Bhawan, Mumbai

Sources claimed that to keep the needy people out from occupying the Rs 100 bedding charges for an overnight stay at the Mumbai Bhawan dormitory accommodation, the management doubled the charges about six months back, even though the same accommodation is said handed out freely to known contacts, driver, helpers and others by the staff.

Stuffy floor dormitory at Bhawan
Stuffy floor dormitory at Bhawan

“Not only has it become unaffordable for us,” says Mayank (name changed), “but the bedding provided for the basement accommodation is a mattress with two bed sheets that has to be laid out on the floor.”

A store room that does not have proper ventilation has been vacated to make for the basement accommodation. This dormitory run room is not even cleaned regularly, he adds.

Operated by a registered society, the Himachal Mitra Mandal Bhawan is located at Sarvay No. 320; Road No. 5, Postam Sagar, Chambur, Mumbai-89 and a foundation stone shows that it was inaugurated by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on 23 October, 1985.

The Bhawan was built by people from Kangra, who had settled in Mumbai.

Eatery operating at Bhawan complex
Eatery operating at Bhawan complex

Constructed with their own savings, the objective was to provide affordable boarding and lodging facilities to people from Himachal visiting Mumbai, which happens to be the costliest city in India.

The Mitra Mandal Bhawan also has a roof top banquet hall and some portion of the Bhawan has been rented out that fetches a good and steady income from the property.

Efforts to contact Shambu Ratta Shastri, (Mobile: 09892135135), president of the society, to seek a comment failed as he could not be reached over the mobile phone, despite repeated attempts.

Himachal Mitra Mandal Bhawan, Landline Phones 022-25251693, 022- 25253098 

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10 Comments

  1. says: Devender Pratap

    Hi, I am Himachali. I read this article. Such news posts some time does not viewed in right spirits. I would rather request to those who happened to undergo any unpleasant experience here, rather we should talk directly to the management rather than sending such posts. We himachali are are a close-knitted society who has a strong boding merely by the name of himachal. I could well imagine how nicely i was treated even even first time being in touch with an office bearer of Himachal Mitra mandal.

    Devender Pratap
    NCAER, New Delhi-2
    Mobile 9811788054

    1. says: himachal mitra mandal

      himachal mitra mandal is providing cheap accomodation to people coming from himachal pradesh and also providing free accomodation to the cancer patient coming for treatment. we provide dormitory type accomodation for students in basment. Regarding the above statement NOT A PLEASANT STAY ANYMORE AT HIMACHAL MITRA MANDAL BHAWAN, MUMBAI . We are hare to say that this statement is not correct. Two years back some students were staying in himachal mitra mandal for too long. They started doing mal practice like on of them did theft at hospital near to himachal mitra mandal. He was arrested by local police and he was sent to Arthur Road jail. Himachal Mitra Mandal helped him to rescue from mumbai police. The managment of himachal mitra mandal took the decision that no student will stay more than seven days only that is also for good students. If any body have any sort of inquiry please do contact on following numbers. 02225254421,02225251693> Mast ram Thakur, Ramesh Thakur , Deepak Soni

  2. says: l k kapoor

    I agree that We himachalis are are a close-knit society having strong bonding specifically out of Himachal. Therefore we must put in our serious efforts to imporve such facilities for the benefit of all.

    L K Kapoor

  3. says: HIMACHAL MITRA MANDAL BHAVAN MUMBAI

    himachal mitra mandal is providing cheap accomodation to people coming from himachal pradesh and also providing free accomodation to the cancer patient coming for treatment. we provide dormitory type accomodation for students in basment. Regarding the above statement NOT A PLEASANT STAY ANYMORE AT HIMACHAL MITRA MANDAL BHAWAN, MUMBAI . We are hare to say that this statement is not correct. Two years back some students were staying in himachal mitra mandal for too long. They started doing mal practice like on of them did theft at hospital near to himachal mitra mandal. He was arrested by local police and he was sent to Arthur Road jail. Himachal Mitra Mandal helped him to rescue from mumbai police. The managment of himachal mitra mandal took the decision that no student will stay more than seven days only that is also for good students. If any body have any sort of inquiry please do contact on following numbers. 02225254421,02225251693> Mast ram Thakur, Ramesh Thakur , Deepak Soni

  4. says: CHIRANJIV LAL KASHYAP ( Ex-MLA) SHIMLA GRAMEEN CONSTITUENCY

    I Stayed in Himachal Mitra Mandal Mumbai with my family for 3 days in Jan-2014. I never disclosed my Identity as former MLA from Himachal , on my personal experience as ordinary person I can say that we were treated as family members by STAFF every time. Even our booking was only for 2 days but, on our request , Mr.Ramesh Thakur manage our stay for one more day. So we can say that for Dev Bhoomi Himachal people this is the only safe , suitable and affordable place in Mumbai. We are thank full to all Himachalis who constructed such a nice Bhawan with there hard earned money and continuously looking after the needful YATRIES, students.and patients from Himachal. Lot of thanks, and best wishes for all Society members and employees of Himachal Mitra Mandal Mumbai. —–CHIRANJIV LAL KASHYAP,, Ex-MLA ( Shimla-Rural) mobile-09816099639 Email- [email protected]

  5. says: pankaj

    Why this article being published at all.it says the rates have been doubled and facilities gone down.Mr journalist how come you expect a accommodation at 100 rs a night in heart of mumbai where a square feet of livable space is sold at whopping 20000/the mandak is doing a great service since last so many years.its income has not increased in proportion to the expenses.this fact also need to be understood by the users.The bankrupt govt of HP(even in bjp rule) has done nothing for this community initiative.I wish you could have also visited Areas near vashi railway station where so many state governments have built their bhawans.I wish your publication start a public donation campaign for this selfless service and augment the resources of this organisation.it will better to shed away the old mentality of expecting everything at zero payment

  6. says: Jaswant Singh

    Yeah….its true that accommodation is at cheap rates but the accommodation is also cheap. There are unusual heaps of waste materials just like used glasses and plates beside the rooms which spread bad smell. The need is to make management aware about all such ill things.

  7. says: Shiva

    What a poor quality n service at himachal bhavan
    Roof fell on boys sitting on their bed & have been injured
    This should be shut down
    There should be case against the management.what are management people doing,where does the money alloted for maintenance go.
    There should be query on this. We can’t risk our lives on the name of “Himachal bhavan”

  8. says: pushwinder chadak

    Kal k accident k badh se himachal miter mandal management chembur Bahut bekar hai ..yha koi Nhi aaya ladke ko building ki cement k tukde girne se lagi ….no one come to see what is happen there ….and mast ram was laughing after the incident happen … They r not himachali …..and they dont have write to say himachal miter mandal ….so those was thinking to come and they will treat like a himachali… Don’t come, u can get much better lodge in Mumbai in same price 200rs or even more cheap and best…..

  9. says: JAGPAL SINGH PATIAL

    we should not criticise the efforts and love of those who initiated this good thought of stay away from home with homely feelings..Needy and low income people of himachal really need it.. when staying at costly city like mumbai.If we are himachalies with good income we should help to raise the standards of the mandal.,and contribute rather than crticism.let us think bigger.I JS PATIAL from Jawala ji salute the great heroes who worked it out.

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