Mumbai’s ongoing redevelopment wave has created a major challenge for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with election officials struggling to track voters displaced from thousands of redevelopment projects across the city. The issue has emerged at a time when booth-level verification has begun, raising concerns that many eligible voters may be left out of the updated rolls.
According to officials, the difficulty stems from more than 3,500 active redevelopment projects, including over 2,500 Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) schemes and over 1,000 other redevelopment developments. In many cases, residents have vacated their original homes and moved to temporary rented accommodation without leaving updated forwarding addresses, making verification difficult.
Nearly a month ago, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) wrote to the Election Commission seeking guidance on how to handle such cases during the SIR exercise. However, civic officials said no response has been received so far, leaving the matter unresolved. The issue was also discussed during a review meeting chaired by Municipal Commissioner and District Election Officer Ashwini Bhide, where political representatives and senior election officials assessed the progress of the revision process.
During the meeting, political party representatives raised concerns about how authorities plan to verify and retain the names of voters who have temporarily shifted due to redevelopment activity. Officials from the BMC acknowledged that they are awaiting instructions from the Election Commission before taking further action.
The scale of displacement is significant, with redevelopment projects spread across Mumbai and its suburbs. As old buildings are demolished and reconstructed into high-rise towers, entire communities are being relocated temporarily, often across different wards or distant neighbourhoods. Political leaders have warned that without a clear mechanism, many genuine voters risk being excluded from the electoral list.
Former BJP corporator Bhalchandra Shirsat said, “There are questions over residents who have temporarily shifted because of redevelopment. The BMC told us it has sought guidance from the Election Commission but is yet to receive a response.”
Former Congress corporator Sheetal Mhatre also pointed out unresolved issues in the revision process. “There are issues related to both temporary and permanent migration in Mumbai since the last SIR. Many of these questions remain unanswered. The issue of voters displaced due to redevelopment is also pending as the BMC is still awaiting the EC’s response,” she said.
A senior BMC election department official confirmed that clarification from the Election Commission is still awaited regarding the treatment of temporarily displaced voters.
Civic activists have stressed that timely guidance is crucial to ensure that redevelopment does not lead to the unintended exclusion of legitimate voters whose residential status has changed only temporarily.
Meanwhile, Booth Level Officers have begun door-to-door verification, which will continue until July 29. Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide has urged citizens to cooperate with officials and provide accurate details, while also calling on political parties to assist in ensuring a smooth and accurate revision process.
Source: Mumbai Mirror
