Three years after the BMC set aside R4 crore to install underground garbage bins in the city, the project appears to be far from over. The civic body started a pilot project with four bins and then decided to place 20 such containers. But the corporation hit a wall as it didn’t have plans to deal with underground utility cables and ducts. In all these years, it has installed just 12 underground bins. More and more cities in the country are adopting underground dustbins as it saves space apart from looking aesthetically pleasing. 

In 2018, the BMC bought four bins on a pilot basis. These were supposed to be installed at tourist spots in South Mumbai—two each in A ward (Gateway of India and Fashion Street) and D ward (Girgaum Chowpatty and Forjett Street). Except for Girgaum Chowpatty, spots for the other bins had to be changed for reasons like the spot being a heritage site, public complaints and underground utility services. One of the bins was installed near Cheetah Gate in Fort. The other two were placed at Aksa and Gorai beaches.