The Congress has asked Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation Mayor Ajiv Patil to support and pass a resolution opposing smart meters, citing complaints about sharply higher electricity bills and unreliable power supply in the city. The demand comes as political parties and civic organisations prepare for a broader campaign against the smart-meter rollout.
The memorandum was submitted by Kuldeep Vartak, working president of the Vasai-Virar city district Congress. Vartak has also called for an all-party meeting, excluding the Bharatiya Janata Party, and the formation of a committee to address concerns related to smart meters and electricity services.
According to the report, residents in Vasai-Virar have complained about frequent interruptions in electricity supply, transformer failures and sudden increases in electricity bills. The city receives electricity from Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited, or Mahavitaran. The report puts the number of consumers served in the city at about 1 million, including residential and industrial connections.
The opposition to smart meters is being framed by local political parties as part of wider public dissatisfaction with electricity services. The Bahujan Vikas Aghadi, Congress, Shiv Sena’s Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction, the Nationalist Congress Party’s Ajit Pawar faction, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and other local organisations are expected to participate in an all-party march against the meters. The report says the BJP is not part of the proposed mobilisation.
The issue has also created a contrast between the distribution utility’s stated position and residents’ complaints. Mahavitaran has claimed that 500,000 consumers saved a combined ₹11 crore during a period of one and a half years. The report does not provide a detailed breakdown of the claim or explain how the savings were calculated. It also does not include a response from Mahavitaran to the allegations about billing increases, transformer failures or interruptions.
The proposed municipal resolution would make the Vasai-Virar civic body’s position on smart meters explicit if it is placed before and approved by the corporation. The Congress has asked Mayor Patil to ensure that the resolution is passed by majority vote. The memorandum also seeks an institutional process through an all-party meeting and committee.
The immediate next steps are the proposed political meeting, the formation of the committee and the planned march. The municipal corporation’s response to the memorandum, along with any decision on placing a smart-meter resolution before the house, remains to be announced.
