BMC Budget 2026: Mumbai civic body introduces QR code-based certification for city hawkers

The announcement comes amid Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde’s strong stance against illegal vending, with the mayor earlier warning of strict action against unauthorised hawkers and civic officials allegedly colluding with them after assuming office.

Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani presented a Rs 80,952.56 crore budget, marking an 8.77 per cent increase over the 2025–26 estimate of Rs 74,427.41 crore for India’s richest civic body.

Crackdown on unauthorised street vending

The BMC stated that the process of issuing QR-based certificates to authorised hawkers is underway. The move aims to create a verifiable digital database of legitimate vendors and curb unauthorised hawking through on-ground verification using scannable codes, reported PTI. 

The QR initiative forms part of a broader technological push, which includes the deployment of AI-enabled assistance for citizens and civic staff, along with advanced video analytics software linked to more than 1,150 CCTV cameras for enhanced urban surveillance.

The Budget also made substantial allocations for infrastructure and transport projects. A sum of Rs 9,650 crore has been earmarked for the Bridges Department, covering projects such as the Goregaon–Mulund Link Road (GMLR) and the northern stretch of the Mumbai Coastal Road from Versova to Dahisar.

Rs 6,875 crore earmarked for road upgrades

The Roads and Traffic Department has been allocated Rs 6,875 crore, primarily for the concreting of major roads and improvements at key junctions.

In addition, the BMC said digital payment facilities for property tax and water charges through UPI and QR codes will be introduced in the coming year, signalling a wider shift towards cashless civic transactions, reported PTI. 

Tawde had asserted that with the BJP in power in the city, the civic administration would act decisively against those who allegedly procured bogus birth certificates and against officials found complicit.

237 bogus birth certificates cancelled, says mayor

A day earlier, Tawde told PTI that 237 fake birth certificates issued by BMC officials had been cancelled, though the original documents are yet to be recovered.

“As many as 237 bogus birth certificates were issued and have now been cancelled. However, the originals are still with Bangladeshi nationals residing in Mumbai. Officials have informed me that these will be recovered within a month,” she said after chairing a high-level meeting, reported PTI. 

Expressing dissatisfaction with the timeline, the mayor said the documents must be seized within 15 days.

“If senior officials are helping such anti-nationals and shielding them, we will have to take strict action. If they fail to discharge their duty, I will move a resolution in the meeting to initiate stringent action against them,” she warned.

(With PTI inputs)