With the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections scheduled for January next year, the pressing civic issues of Mumbai's historic but congested B and C wards have taken centre stage. These geographically small wards in South Mumbai, home to the city's oldest clothing and jewellery markets, are battling a trifecta of challenges: inefficient solid waste management, acute water supply problems, and the complex redevelopment of dangerously dilapidated buildings.
The Heart of Old Mumbai: Congestion and Legacy Issues
Nestled at the southern tip of the island city, B ward is the smallest of Mumbai's 25 municipal wards, comprising just two corporator constituencies (223 and 224). The adjacent C ward is slightly larger with three constituencies (220, 221, 222). Together, they encompass the densely populated and commercially vital localities of Bhindi Bazar, Dongri, Minara Masjid, Kalbadevi, and Chirabazar.
This area is not just a commercial hub but a living museum of Mumbai's architectural heritage, dotted with century-old 'pagdi' style houses. However, the very charm of its narrow, winding lanes has become a source of major civic headaches. BMC's standard waste collection vehicles cannot navigate these tight spaces, leading to residents routinely discarding garbage on the streets, causing severe sanitation issues.
Key Challenges: From Garbage to Crumbling Homes
Former corporators and residents identify three core problems plaguing these wards. First is the mismanagement of solid waste in public spaces, a direct result of infrastructural inaccessibility. Second is a persistent lack of reliable water supply, affecting daily life and business. The third, and perhaps most complex, is the stalled redevelopment of old, privately-owned multi-storey buildings.
Many residential structures in Dongri and Kalbadevi, some dating back several decades, are in a dilapidated state with cracked walls and shoddy construction, posing a serious risk, especially during the monsoon. Legal disputes over property ownership have left redevelopment projects in a limbo, preventing any comprehensive cluster development that could modernise housing while preserving the area's character.
The demographic fabric here is distinct: B Ward has a majority Muslim population, while C ward houses a large number of Hindus, particularly from the Marwari and Jain communities, many of whom are deeply involved in the local clothing and jewellery trades.
Political Landscape and Election Promises
The political representation of these wards has seen a mix of parties. Between 2017 and 2022, B ward was represented by Congress corporators Afreen Shaikh and Nikita Nikam. C ward had BJP's Atul Shah, Akash Purohit, and Rita Makwana. As the election fever picks up, candidate selection is underway, influenced by recent reservations. In B ward, constituency 224 is reserved for a general woman candidate and 223 for an OBC woman candidate. In C ward, 220 is reserved for a woman, 222 for an OBC candidate, and 221 has no reservation.
Former corporators, hoping for re-election, are sharpening their agendas. Congress's Afreen Shaikh stated that if re-elected, her sole focus would be on improving the water supply system. BJP's Atul Shah, ex-corporator from constituency 220, emphasised that repairing old houses is insufficient. "The only way forward is to redevelop these buildings and our hope will be to push the government to take up a larger cluster development project in this area," he told The Indian Express. He also advocated for a door-to-door garbage collection policy to circumvent the narrow lane problem.
The wards fall under the Mumbadevi assembly constituency, represented by Congress legislator Amin Patel for four consecutive terms. Patel advocates for a broader, top-down approach, stating that key issues aren't solely dependent on the local corporator. He revealed plans already mooted to revamp the old markets. "We have already mooted a plan to construct a dedicated shopping plaza for these two sectors. Once the election is over, we will streamline it," Patel said.
As Mumbai prepares to vote, the demands of residents in its oldest commercial heartlands for basic amenities and safe housing are set to be a critical test for aspiring corporators and the larger civic administration.
