29 July,2026 03:45 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide interacts with sanitation workers during a review of public sanitation operations in Mumbai on Wednesday. PIC/BMC
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Ashwini Bhide on Wednesday directed civic officials to intensify garbage collection at vulnerable dumping spots, strengthen waste management in slum areas, and ensure sweeping of busy roads before traffic begins to improve cleanliness across the city.
During an early morning inspection of Mankhurd, Govandi, and Parel, Bhide reviewed public sanitation, waste collection, and road maintenance operations. She instructed officials to adopt area-specific sanitation strategies based on local population, waste generation, and geographical conditions.
The civic commissioner directed officials to conduct garbage collection in two shifts every day, increase the number of compactor vehicles and collection trips, and ensure that no garbage accumulates, particularly in slum and densely populated areas.
She also called for stronger coordination with local public representatives to improve waste management and directed officials to install CCTV cameras at garbage vulnerable points (GVPs) to identify and penalise people dumping waste in public places.
Bhide further instructed officials to initiate strict penal action, including criminal cases where necessary, against those found dumping solid waste in rivers, drains, roads, and other public spaces.
Bhide conducts surprise inspection of garbage compactor
The civic commissioner began her inspection from the Motor Loader Chowki on Neetu Mandke Marg in Mankhurd before carrying out a surprise inspection of a garbage compactor vehicle (MH 01 CV 2303).
She tracked the vehicle along its designated route to verify whether waste collection was being carried out on schedule and whether sanitation protocols, including disinfectant spraying after garbage collection, were being followed.
She also directed officials to ensure that bulky waste (odd articles) is not left unattended for long periods and reiterated the need to eliminate garbage vulnerable points across the city.
During visits to sanitation depots in Govandi and Parel, Bhide reviewed the deployment of sanitation workers, daily road-sweeping schedules and the availability of manpower and equipment.
She instructed officials to complete sweeping on major roads before peak traffic hours to minimise inconvenience to commuters and ensure cleaner roads throughout the day. Bhide also called for effective planning and additional resources wherever required to maintain cleanliness on arterial roads.
Emphasising pedestrian safety, she directed civic officials to keep footpaths permanently clean, walkable, and free from encroachments. She asked departments to carry out regular inspections and take immediate action against obstructions caused by unauthorised structures, construction material, hawkers or garbage.
The BMC Commissioner said improvements in solid waste management must remain a continuous process and called for closer coordination between the solid waste management department and ward-level teams to address local sanitation challenges more effectively.
