Mumbai Civic Body Launches 9-Day Dust-Control Drive Ahead of Diwali
TL;DR
- BMC's nine-day dust mitigation drive runs October 29 to November 6 across Mumbai's major roads
- ₹15 lakh allocated per municipal ward for mechanical sweepers, misting machines, water sprinklers, JCBs and dumpers
- Drive targets arterial roads including JVLR, SCLR, BKC Connector, and both Eastern and Western Express Highways
- Wards must maintain daily records with geo-tagged photos and videos documenting before-and-after conditions
- Initiative aims to curb air pollution and improve Mumbai's Air Quality Index during winter season
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has launched a nine-day special cleanliness and dust mitigation campaign running from October 29 to November 6, targeting major roads and dust-prone areas across Mumbai ahead of Diwali celebrations.
The drive, ordered by Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide, covers key arterial routes including the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road, Santacruz-Chembur Link Road, Bandra-Kurla Complex Connector, and both Eastern and Western Express Highways. Additional stretches such as Ghatkopar-Mankhurd Road, Sion-Mankhurd Road, S.V. Road, Link Road and Carter Road are also included in the plan.
Under directions from the civic body's Solid Waste Management Department, the campaign involves thorough road sweeping, clearing of accumulated dust, silt and construction debris, along with cleaning of dividers, footpaths, traffic islands and kerbs. Water sprinkling and misting operations will be conducted at identified high-dust zones.
Each municipal ward has been allocated ₹15 lakh for the effort, with Assistant Engineers tasked with creating day-wise action plans alongside ward-level officials to pinpoint cleaning priorities and resource needs. Equipment deployed will include mechanical sweepers, misting machines, water sprinklers, JCBs, dumpers and litter-collection tools, drawing on both in-house and contracted resources. Sanitation workers are to be equipped with uniforms and protective safety gear.
Senior officials, including Assistant Commissioners and zonal Deputy Municipal Commissioners, have been directed to personally supervise the drive to ensure visible results. Wards must document daily progress, including locations cleaned, manpower and machinery used, and waste quantities collected, supported by geo-tagged photographic and video evidence.
The campaign forms part of the BMC's broader strategy to manage road dust and safeguard the city's Air Quality Index during the winter months, a period when air pollution levels typically worsen.
Why It Matters
Mumbai's winter air quality crisis affects millions of residents, including the large Indian-American diaspora with family and property ties to the city, making timely civic action on pollution control a matter of ongoing concern for those following urban governance and public health trends in India's financial capital.
Oct 28, 2026 · Updated 10/28/2026, 8:46:04 PM · Reported with: The Hindu
Sources (1)
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The Hindu — BMC to launch pre-Diwali dust mitigation drive across Mumbai, allocates ₹15 lakh per wardUp next · Community
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