Mumbai: BMC Marks Two Years Under Administrator, Longest Period Without Elected Representatives

Mumbai, 8th March 2024: As of March 8, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is marking two years under the rule of an administrator, marking the lengthiest period without elected representatives in its 150-year history. Iqbal Singh Chahal, the BMC commissioner, assumed the role of the state-appointed administrator on March 8, 2022. While this administrative approach has been in place, activists, citizen groups, and former corporators argue that the absence of elected officials has led to coordination issues and delays in various civic projects at the ward level.

The city comprises 25 administrative wards with 227 elected corporators participating in different statutory committees within the BMC. These committees play a crucial role in approving infrastructure proposals, resolutions, and policy frameworks. Under the administrator’s governance, the corporation is managed by government officials and bureaucrats. However, citizens express the need for corporators to address local concerns such as water supply, road and toilet repairs, and other ward-level issues.

Former Congress corporator and Leader of Opposition in BMC, Ravi Raja, point out that citizens still approach elected officials with their civic problems. The scarcity of funds raises questions about the transparency of civic administration. Without elected representatives, several development projects linger without attention for extended periods, a departure from the previous prompt resolutions.

Former ShivSena (UBT) corporator Sachin Padwal highlights the role corporators played in expediting the resolution of local issues. The absence of elected bodies questions administrative decisions, disrupting the once-smooth coordination between the administration and elected representatives.