July 29, 2025: In a significant policy shift, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has sharply increased the fine for Ganesh mandals that dig up roads during the festival season—from Rs 2,000 to Rs 15,000 per hole. This is the first time the civic body has imposed such a steep penalty in an effort to safeguard Mumbai’s newly concretised roads.
The move comes in the wake of the city’s ongoing road concretisation project, a major infrastructure drive aimed at modernising Mumbai’s streets. Under current regulations, newly laid cement roads cannot be dug up or trenched for at least three years. Given the high cost of repairing concrete roads, the BMC has decided to clamp down on unauthorised digging by increasing the financial deterrent.
Civic officials noted that the previous penalty was largely ineffective, especially as many Ganesh mandals operate on multi-crore budgets. The revised fine is intended to send a strong message that such damage will not be tolerated.
The decision was made after internal discussions and legal pressure from an NGO, which argued that the earlier penalty was inadequate. The BMC’s infrastructure department proposed the revision, which was approved by the municipal commissioner.
However, the move has faced resistance from the Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti. The umbrella body for mandals has demanded a rollback of the fine and raised other concerns, including abandoned vehicles near pandals and the filing of police cases against volunteers.
While Ganeshotsav remains a deeply cherished celebration in Mumbai, the BMC’s decision underscores the need to balance cultural traditions with sustainable urban development. As Mumbai continues to evolve, protecting long-term infrastructure is becoming a civic priority in the face of rapid urbanisation.
Source: Urban Acres
