BMC May Drop Plan to Provide ₹1.5 Crore Worth New Cars to Senior Leaders Following Fadnavis’ Criticism

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is likely to withdraw its proposal to replace the official vehicles of six senior elected representatives after Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed strong displeasure over the proposed expenditure of around ₹1.5 crore.

Fadnavis reportedly directed that public funds should be used strictly for development-related works and unnecessary expenses should be avoided. Reacting to the proposal, he said, “Public money should be spent only on development works. Stop unnecessary expenditure and prioritize the needs of citizens.”

Following the Chief Minister’s remarks and growing criticism over the proposed spending, the BMC is now considering scrapping the plan.

What Was the Proposal?

At the BMC Standing Committee meeting held on July 30, a proposal was tabled to provide six new Toyota Innova Crysta vehicles for senior elected representatives. The proposed beneficiaries included the Deputy Mayor, House Leader, Leader of the Opposition, and chairpersons of three important committees.

The move attracted criticism, with opposition leaders questioning the need for replacing the existing vehicles.

Congress Raises Financial Concerns

Congress Group Leader Ashraf Azmi opposed the proposal, stating that there was no immediate need to replace the Mahindra Scorpio-N vehicles currently being used by the representatives.

Azmi argued that the civic body should avoid unnecessary expenditure, especially at a time when the municipal corporation is facing financial challenges. He urged the BMC to maintain financial discipline and focus its resources on public welfare projects.

BJP Defends the Proposal

The BJP responded by accusing the opposition of raising objections despite being aware of the discussions surrounding the proposal.

BJP Group Leader Ganesh Khankar claimed that the proposal had been discussed and approved with the consent of leaders from all political parties. He said that, in the future, signatures from representatives of all parties would be obtained before approving similar proposals to avoid controversies.

Standing Committee Chairman Prabhakar Shinde also stated that opposition leaders were aware of the decision and had agreed to it during discussions.

Vehicles Were Proposed on Lease Basis

Clarifying the details of the proposal, Khankar said that the BMC was not planning to purchase the vehicles outright. Instead, the plan was to acquire them under a “wet lease” model, where the civic body would pay for the vehicle service along with fuel and driver costs.

He also suggested introducing a uniform vehicle policy for senior elected representatives and officials, with the exception of the Mayor and Municipal Commissioner, to ensure consistency in the future.

With the Chief Minister’s intervention and public criticism mounting, the BMC is now expected to reconsider the proposal.