A long-pending chapter in Mumbai’s street vending governance was finally moved forward on Saturday, when vote counting for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s main Town Vending Committee and its seven zonal committees was carried out at the BMC headquarters. The counting process, which had been held back for nearly one and a half years, was resumed only after legal barriers were removed. Although the exercise was advanced significantly during the day, the official results were not announced immediately, as it was indicated that a final declaration would be made only after the counting across all zones had been completed.
During the day, counting for Zones 1, 2 and 4 was completed, while the process for the remaining zones was continued into the evening. It was stated by a senior official that the results would be declared only after the entire counting exercise had been concluded. It was also conveyed that certificates would then be issued to the elected members by the designated election authorities. A cautious and procedural approach was seen to have been maintained throughout the exercise, especially because the matter had remained under legal scrutiny for a prolonged period.
The counting operation was begun after all 136 ballot boxes were taken out from the strong room in which they had been securely preserved. These ballot boxes had remained sealed for many months while the matter was being considered in court. Once they were brought out around noon, they were handed over to the election officials for processing. The counting work was supported by approximately 200 to 250 staff members from the BMC’s Licence Department, and the process was conducted in the presence of candidates as well as their representatives so that transparency could be maintained.
The importance of the Town Vending Committee has been widely recognised because the implementation of the city’s hawkers’ policy is guided through this body. It is chaired by the BMC chief, and seven zonal committees have been constituted under it. In each zonal committee, 20 members are included, and eight of these members are chosen as representatives of hawkers. Through this structure, participation in policy-linked urban governance is intended to be provided to street vendors.
The elections for these bodies had originally been conducted on August 29, 2024, and an average turnout of 49.46 per cent had been recorded. However, the counting of votes and the declaration of results were withheld due to Supreme Court directives and pending petitions. As a result, the ballot boxes were kept sealed for around eighteen months. The deadlock was broken on March 23, 2026, when a final verdict was delivered by the Bombay High Court. In that ruling, the 2024 election process was declared “valid,” and the suspension on counting was lifted. The civic administration was also directed to announce the results without delay.
The broader foundation of this process has been shaped by the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, which was passed by Parliament in 2014, and by subsequent directions issued by the Supreme Court. Following these developments, a formal hawkers’ policy was developed by the BMC. In a 2016 survey, 1.65 lakh hawkers were identified, although forms were submitted by only 99,000. Across Mumbai, 400 hawking zones have been designated. With the counting now finally having been undertaken, an important step in the city’s vending governance structure has been set in motion.
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