Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis addressed 89 newly elected corporators of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) during a two-day training programme, outlining expectations for governance and introducing a 21-point agenda aimed at improving civic administration in the city.
The session, held at the BJP office in Dadar, focused on guiding first-time corporators on their roles and responsibilities. Fadnavis highlighted the importance of the standing committee and other civic committees in shaping the city’s development and stressed that corporators must maintain transparency in their work. He also assured them that the state leadership would extend support whenever required.
“We have come to power in the BMC for the first time, and it is your duty to ensure that the party creates its image in the hearts of the people,” he said.
Fadnavis pointed out that corporators often face public criticism over civic issues and therefore carry significant responsibility. He also encouraged new representatives to learn from senior members in the civic body. “It is a perfect combination of new and experienced corporators in the civic body,” he said. “The responsibility lies with both, the new and the old, to support each other, provide a corruption-free administration and work towards making Mumbai clean as promised in the party manifesto.”
Following the training, the party announced a 21-point programme to be implemented by Mumbai mayor Ritu Tawde during her first 100 days in office. Party leaders stated that five issues would be addressed before March 11, when Tawde completes one month as mayor.
BJP Mumbai president Ameet Satam said that changes in civic functioning could lead to political friction in the coming months. Referring to a remark once made by former chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, he recalled that the BMC’s standing committee had been described as an “understanding committee”. “The Mahayuti’s vision is to bring an end to that understanding in the standing committee,” he said.
Satam said work on the 21-point plan had already begun and some steps were implemented within the first 20 days. “Before 20 days were over, four issues were resolved,” he said. One such step involved procurement through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal instead of traditional contractor-based purchases.
“The education department purchases 27 items for students from municipal schools,” he said. “A proposal for this, routed through the education committee to the municipal secretary in the standing committee, was withdrawn, as the BJP is determined to ensure transparency in procurement through the GeM portal.”
Satam claimed that there were “many elements in the BMC” attempting to obstruct the system. “Hence, I want to convey to this administration that we will not allow any purchase from contractors. If the items are not purchased from the GeM portal, we will transfer money to students’ accounts through direct benefit transfer. But we will not allow contractor rule at any cost.”
Other initiatives listed in the agenda include road repairs, desilting of drains, upgrades in municipal hospitals and schools, the creation of multiplex facilities for Marathi films, and cervical cancer vaccination for girl students.
Actor Akshay Kumar, associated with the civic initiative titled Awaaz Mumbaikaracha, Sankalp Bhajpacha, suggested organising cleanliness competitions across city neighbourhoods. A third-party agency will assess areas and recognise the cleanest locality after a year.
The programme also emphasises improving sanitation in internal lanes and slum areas. To tackle waterlogging, mayor Tawde has proposed a topographical study of city drains to identify long-term solutions. A study group from IIT Bombay has already begun work on the project.
Another proposal under consideration involves inviting international agencies through global tenders to manage operations at Byculla Zoo, with the aim of ensuring that specialised tasks are handled by professional organisations rather than general civic contractors.
Source: Hindustan Times
