The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has allocated Rs 15 lakh to each ward for a special pre-Diwali cleanliness drive aimed at reducing road dust and mitigating air pollution across Mumbai. The drive, scheduled from October 28 to November 7, will focus on major arterial roads and identified dust-prone stretches, with intensive cleaning, mechanised sweeping, dust removal and water sprinkling planned ahead of the festival.

The civic body has issued instructions to all wards to undertake the drive as a precautionary measure to control road dust and support the maintenance of Mumbai's Air Quality Index (AQI) during the winter season.