The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has postponed its planned 24-hour water shutdown in 14 city wards, anticipating the influx of lakhs of devotees for Mahaparinirvana Day on 6 December. The move ensures uninterrupted water supply to critical areas, balancing civic maintenance with public convenience during one of the city’s largest annual gatherings.
Mahaparinirvana Day marks the death anniversary of Dr B.R. Ambedkar, attracting a congregation of approximately one million visitors to Chaitanyabhoomi and surrounding areas. Originally, BMC had scheduled the water cut from 10 AM on 3 December to 10 AM on 4 December to facilitate the replacement of a major Tansa water main supplying the Bhandup Treatment Plant. The work was expected to reduce water supply by roughly 15 per cent across affected wards. Following requests from political and civic stakeholders, officials opted to delay the repair work to avoid disruption to the devotees’ experience. “Our priority is citizen convenience while maintaining critical infrastructure work. We are closely monitoring the situation and will reschedule maintenance at a safer time,” an official said.
The postponed repair involved replacing the 2,750 mm diameter Tansa pipeline that channels water from Tansa Dam to the Bhandup plant. Completion of this work is crucial for the city’s water network resilience, enabling smoother distribution to both residential and commercial zones once executed. The affected wards span key areas in Mumbai City Division, Western Suburbs, and Eastern Suburbs, including Colaba, Fort, Churchgate, Marine Drive, Bandra, Andheri, and Malad. These densely populated zones were set to face reduced supply, which would have impacted both daily life and large-scale public gatherings. To accommodate the high footfall expected in Shivaji Park, Dadar, and adjoining precincts, BMC has maintained mobile toilets and shower facilities, ensuring basic amenities during the event. Coordination with police and local authorities has been strengthened to manage crowd safety alongside civic services.
Officials highlighted that rescheduling maintenance does not compromise long-term infrastructure goals. The water main replacement will be undertaken once the city returns to normal civic conditions, ensuring robust service continuity without affecting major public events. By postponing water cuts during high-demand periods, BMC demonstrates a citizen-centric approach that blends infrastructural maintenance with sensitivity to social and cultural priorities. Experts emphasise that such planning reduces strain on urban services while maintaining trust between the municipality and residents.
BMC Postpones Water Cut Across Mumbai Ahead Of Mahaparinirvana Day Crowds
