The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has intensified its citywide drive to remove abandoned and defunct vehicles from Mumbai’s streets, aiming to free up public space and improve mobility. As part of its “Khatara Hatao” initiative, the civic body has begun accelerating efforts by involving private contractors, following a strategic review meeting at its headquarters earlier this week.
According to civic officials, each abandoned vehicle occupies around 124 square feet of space—enough to significantly impact pedestrian zones, parking availability, and traffic movement when multiplied across thousands of such vehicles across the city. To streamline the process, BMC has floated tenders for appointing a private agency tasked with towing and scrapping these vehicles, which will work in coordination with ward-level civic staff and the Mumbai Police. Earlier, the removal process involved overlapping responsibilities shared among the traffic police, RTOs, and BMC departments, which led to delays and inefficiencies due to lack of coordination and staff shortages. The new approach aims to eliminate this red tape and establish accountability, enabling faster clearances and ensuring visibly cleaner and safer streets.
Municipal officials stressed that the initiative is not meant to be punitive but is focused on ensuring ease of mobility and enhancing the city’s liveability quotient. With an emphasis on removing obstructions and ensuring obstacle-free roads, the campaign reflects the broader vision of a more accessible and pedestrian-friendly Mumbai. The civic body has also planned to appoint nodal officers to enhance coordination among contractors, BMC departments, and law enforcement during removal operations. Officials stated that areas such as Andheri, Borivali, Malad, Sion, and Mulund have been identified as key zones for implementation in the initial phases, based on reports of high abandonment. Meanwhile, the newly appointed contractors will operate hydraulic tow vans to lift and transport the vehicles to designated yards. Vehicles unclaimed after 30 days will be auctioned under provisions of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act. Past auctions have generated over ₹4 crore in revenue, now being reinvested in waste management systems and urban cleanliness drives.
In addition to clearing vehicles, the campaign also targets unauthorised roadside scrap, rusting metal, and vehicle carcasses left unattended. These have not only become safety hazards but are also breeding grounds for vector-borne diseases during monsoon months. Civic and police officials are conducting joint inspections in identified hotspots, with parallel awareness campaigns urging citizens to report abandoned vehicles in their neighbourhoods. Urban development experts see the drive as a long-overdue intervention to reclaim public space. The recovered space from cleared vehicles could be reimagined for green buffers, cycle tracks, widened footpaths, and last-mile transit solutions—each aligning with Mumbai’s broader objective of sustainable, inclusive, and low-carbon mobility infrastructure.
With increasing focus on climate-resilient urban planning, BMC’s decision to decongest roads is expected to have far-reaching implications beyond traffic relief. By reducing bottlenecks and enhancing flow, the campaign contributes to better air quality, fewer idling emissions, and more efficient emergency response times. However, the success of the drive hinges on continued inter-departmental coordination, consistent follow-through by the appointed agency, and public participation. Municipal authorities are optimistic that the project will build momentum as citizens begin witnessing results in their neighbourhoods.
The drive also signals a shift in civic governance—from reactive cleanup to proactive urban management. With Mumbai’s streets burdened by increasing vehicular density and space constraints, this campaign could set the groundwork for future policy on parking reform, vehicle registration accountability, and shared responsibility for public infrastructure upkeep. In the coming months, the BMC plans to issue periodic updates on progress, including data on vehicles removed, space reclaimed, and neighbourhoods benefited. A publicly accessible dashboard may also be considered to improve transparency and community engagement.
As Mumbai inches toward becoming a smarter, cleaner, and more sustainable metropolis, the removal of junk vehicles is emerging as an essential first step in that transition—unlocking not just space, but a new vision for how public areas can serve the people more efficiently and equitably.
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