The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has rolled out a citywide cleanliness campaign to improve sanitation across Mumbai and its suburbs.
The cleanliness drive follows a review meeting held on August 1 after observations made by the Bombay High Court on Mumbai's solid waste management.
The initiative aims to eliminate Garbage Vulnerable Points (GVPs), curb illegal waste dumping and improve the city's overall cleanliness through surveillance, stricter enforcement and public participation.
Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide has instructed Assistant Commissioners across all wards to carry out regular inspections and ensure high standards of sanitation in their respective jurisdictions.
A key feature of the campaign is the installation of CCTV cameras at garbage dumping hotspots to deter illegal disposal of waste.
The BMC has identified 231 Garbage Vulnerable Points (GVPs) across Mumbai, of which 49 have already been eliminated, while 73 locations are currently under CCTV surveillance. These sites have been mapped ward-wise on Google Maps for continuous monitoring.
Each hotspot will undergo a detailed assessment to determine the source and type of waste while identifying gaps in waste collection, transportation, manpower and machinery. Repeat offenders caught dumping garbage illegally will face strict penalties.
The civic body's campaign will focus on improving cleanliness in:
Officials have also been directed to strengthen measures to prevent plastic waste and solid waste from entering drains, creeks and the sea, especially during the monsoon.
To encourage long-term behavioural change, the BMC will conduct awareness campaigns in collaboration with residents' associations, market committees and commercial establishments.
Alongside the sanitation drive, the BMC has launched a campaign to make Mumbai's footpaths obstruction-free.
Assistant Commissioners have been instructed to remove illegal hawkers, unauthorised ramps and other encroachments, particularly around schools, hospitals, railway stations, Metro stations, bus depots and markets.
According to the civic body, nearly 50 per cent of Mumbai's residents travel on foot, making pedestrian-friendly infrastructure essential for safer mobility, smoother traffic flow and lower pollution.
The Municipal Commissioner has also directed officials to address traffic bottlenecks and expedite the resolution of pothole complaints received through the Marg App.
According to the BMC, 96 per cent of pothole complaints received between June 10 and July 30, 2026, have been resolved, thanks to the ongoing cement concreting of city roads. Officials have been instructed to treat every remaining complaint as a priority.
The BMC has reiterated that unauthorised constructions will face immediate action across Mumbai.
Ashwini Bhide clarified that payment of property tax, electricity connections, shop licences or long-term occupancy do not legalise illegal structures. Officials have been instructed to ensure that no unauthorised construction is regularised under any circumstances.
Calling cleanliness a shared responsibility, the BMC has appealed to citizens, resident welfare associations, market committees, NGOs, elected representatives and visitors to cooperate with the campaign.
Residents have also been encouraged to report illegal garbage dumping and support efforts to make Mumbai cleaner, healthier and more sustainable.
Officials and sanitation staff who demonstrate exceptional performance and carry out the highest number of enforcement actions during the campaign will be recognised by the civic body.