The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will launch a special road-washing and cleaning campaign across Mumbai from October 1 to 15 as part of efforts to control dust and air pollution ahead of the coming months.
BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide issued the directions during a monthly review meeting with officials from various civic departments. The campaign will focus on reducing dust accumulation on roads and improving cleanliness across areas affected by traffic and construction activity.
Construction Sites Also Under Watch
As part of the drive, civic authorities will intensify street-cleaning operations and require major construction sites to install appropriate protective coverings.
The BMC also plans to appoint a nodal officer to monitor large construction projects that could have an impact on Mumbai’s air quality. The move is intended to ensure that dust-control measures are consistently followed at sites handling extensive construction activity.
Although Mumbai’s Air Quality Index (AQI) is currently described as being under control, the civic body wants preventive measures in place before conditions potentially worsen, particularly during October.
139 Traffic Bottlenecks Identified
During the meeting, officials also identified around 139 locations where traffic bottlenecks are affecting vehicle movement.
Bhide directed the concerned departments to examine the reasons behind congestion at these spots and identify structures or obstructions that could be removed to improve traffic flow.
The exercise is expected to cover roads where roadside structures, physical obstructions or other impediments are contributing to delays.
Focus on Citizen Complaints
The municipal commissioner also reviewed the status of complaints submitted through the BMC’s Management and Redressal of Grievance (MARG) system.
The platform has received approximately 87,004 complaints, of which around 64% have been resolved so far. Bhide instructed officials to ensure that complaints are addressed properly and within stipulated timelines.
The review emphasised the need for departments to maintain accountability while dealing with civic grievances and ensure that pending cases do not remain unresolved for extended periods.
Pedestrian-First Campaign to Continue
Bhide also called for consistency in implementing the BMC’s “Pedestrian First” campaign, which seeks to improve footpaths and pedestrian movement across Mumbai.
The directive comes as the civic administration works on removing encroachments and obstructions from pedestrian routes and improving walking infrastructure in different parts of the city.
The October road-washing programme is part of the BMC’s broader preventive approach to managing dust, construction-related pollution, traffic bottlenecks and pedestrian infrastructure before environmental conditions become more challenging.
With the campaign scheduled for the first half of October, civic departments will be expected to coordinate road cleaning, construction-site monitoring and traffic-related interventions across the city.
Source: Times of India
