BMC to launch pre-Diwali dust mitigation drive across Mumbai, allocates ₹15 lakh per ward

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will undertake a nine-day special cleanliness and dust mitigation drive across Mumbai from October 29 to November 6, focusing on major arterial roads and dust-prone stretches to curb air pollution and improve the city’s air quality ahead of Diwali.

The drive, initiated on the directions of Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide, will cover major roads, including the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR), Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR), Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) Connector, Eastern Express Highway and Western Express Highway. Other identified stretches include Ghatkopar-Mankhurd Road, Sion-Mankhurd Road, S.V. Road, Link Road and Carter Road.

According to instructions issued by the civic body’s Solid Waste Management (SWM) Department, the exercise will involve intensive road sweeping, removal of accumulated dust, silt and construction and demolition (C&D) waste, and cleaning of road dividers, medians, traffic islands, footpaths and kerbs. Water sprinkling and misting will also be carried out at identified dust-prone locations.

The BMC has allocated ₹15 lakh to each municipal ward for the drive. Assistant Engineers from the SWM Department have been instructed to prepare day-wise action plans in coordination with their respective ward Assistant Commissioners, identifying locations requiring intensive cleaning and the manpower and machinery needed.

The civic body will deploy mechanical sweepers, misting machines, water sprinklers, JCBs, dumpers and litter pickers, using both departmental and contractual resources. Officials have also been instructed to ensure that sanitation workers are provided with uniforms, protective gear and necessary safety equipment.

Assistant Commissioners and zonal Deputy Municipal Commissioners have been asked to personally oversee the exercise to ensure effective implementation and visible improvements on the ground. Zonal SWM officials will also assess requirements for additional machinery and manpower and coordinate their deployment wherever necessary.

To monitor the drive, each ward will be required to maintain daily records of locations covered, activities undertaken, manpower and machinery deployed, and quantities of dust and waste collected and disposed of.

The reporting process will also include geo-tagged photographs and videos documenting conditions before and after the cleaning operations. The SWM Department’s operations team will centrally compile progress reports, while the civic body’s public relations department has been instructed to periodically share verified updates with the media and keep citizens informed about the drive’s progress and outcomes.

The initiative is part of the BMC’s precautionary measures to control road dust and maintain Mumbai’s Air Quality Index (AQI) during the winter season, when deteriorating air quality remains a concern.