January 2, 2026: With the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections approaching, the Mumbai North Central District Forum (MNCDF), a city-based NGO representing multiple community groups, has released a 30-point charter outlining citizen-centric priorities for all candidates contesting the civic polls. The forum said the demands reflect residents’ expectations for transparent, accountable and people-first urban governance rooted in dignity, safety and sustainability.
The charter places strong emphasis on reforming grievance redressal. It calls on corporators to strengthen the BMC’s public relations and complaints mechanism, particularly on social media, and to introduce secure, multilingual platforms that allow anonymous complaints with whistleblower protection. Regular monthly meetings between elected representatives, ward officers and citizen forums have been proposed, with unresolved issues to be escalated to the BMC commissioner’s sabhas. The NGO has also sought independent annual audits of grievance handling and a 24×7 multilingual helpline to improve transparency.
Urban mobility and pedestrian safety form another key pillar of the demands. The forum has urged strict implementation of a pedestrian-first policy, creation of dedicated walking zones, universal accessibility standards and enforcement against illegal hawkers and encroachments. It has also flagged the need for better coordination before road concreting projects, a zero-pothole policy linked to contractor accountability, and improved east-west connectivity, including revamping the Khar subway.
Public health, environment and sanitation feature prominently. The charter highlights the need to address hygiene, infrastructure gaps and manpower shortages in municipal hospitals, alongside mandatory annual audits. It also calls for mental health counselling centres, age-friendly infrastructure for senior citizens, real-time air quality monitoring and stricter enforcement of pollution norms at construction sites.
On transport and technology, the forum has proposed integrating BEST buses, Metro and suburban rail through a single app or smart card, AI-enabled traffic signals, stricter parking enforcement and real-time parking availability systems. Education and community development demands include digital classrooms in BMC schools, AI skill training, and accessible sports complexes, libraries and cultural hubs across Mumbai.
By placing this agenda before candidates, the NGO aims to shift the BMC election discourse towards everyday civic issues that directly affect Mumbai’s residents and neighbourhoods.
Source: Mid-day
