With local body elections in Maharashtra due early next year, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s ‘Deep Clean Mumbai’ drive has found enthusiastic takers in Malad’s P North ward, where beautification and repair projects worth over Rs 2 crore have been approved. Over the weekend, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) P North ward floated at least 15 tenders for cosmetic repair and beautification works under the Deep Clean initiative. These include road and footpath repairs, kerbside and median painting, and other minor civic facelifts.
Dhaval Shah, a citizens activist and resident of Andheri, said, “All these works should be carried out within the defect liability period, like roads, so that taxpayers’ funds don’t go down the drain. Also footpath should have a no-breakage policy for five years so that repeated wastage of funds isn`t done. Washing of roads isn`t needed; it’s a wasteful exercise and a loss of potable drinking water. We must ask if this is wasteful expenditure, if it is politically motivated, and if works were pre-planned and if they are really required?”
Authorities speak
“This work has been taken up under funds allotted for the ‘Deep Cleaning Drive’ for Mumbai. It’s not just P North — similar works are being undertaken across wards in the city,” said Kundan Valvi, assistant municipal commissioner, P North ward. He added, “The projects are part of the Diwali cleaning theme. Deep cleaning work includes kerb and divider painting, footpath repairs, and related improvements. These are not major road works, which are handled separately by the central Roads Department of the BMC.” The Roads Department functions independently within the BMC structure and is responsible for annual road maintenance across the city.
What the works involve
The planned projects include repainting zebra crossings, medians and traffic islands, installing thermoplastic paint markings, upgrading footpaths, placing directional signboards, and installing tree guards at public spots. The work will be carried out on key routes in the western suburbs, including Marve Road, Link Road (stretching over 12 km in Malad), and the SV Road corridor, which connects the western suburbs to South Mumbai.
What is ‘Deep Clean Drive’?
Launched by Deputy CM Eknath Shinde in December 2023, the ‘Deep Clean Mumbai’ drive aims to give the city a long-term cleanliness boost. Initially rolled out in Mumbai and later expanded across Maharashtra, the campaign targets improved air quality and cleaner streets following the festive season, tackling garbage buildup, construction debris, and encroachments. Under the initiative, over 1300 civic workers were deployed for 28 weeks to clean lanes, footpaths, slums, and garbage-choked roads. Then, municipal commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal had directed that the campaign go beyond routine cleaning operations to ensure a visibly cleaner, more liveable city.
Details of Work
>> Fixing a collapsible gate on Link Road
>> Repairing and painting the divider on SV Road and Marve Road
>> Providing and fixing direction boards at various locations on SV Road
>> Providing and fixing direction boards at various locations on Link Road
>> Providing and fixing signboards with thermoplastic paint at various locations on SV Road
>> Repairing speed breakers at various locations on SV Road
>> Providing and fixing kerbstones on Link Road
>> Providing and fixing signboards at various locations on Link Road
>> Providing and fixing kerbstones on SV Road
>> Repairing damaged road surfaces
>> Improving footpaths on Link Road
>> Providing and fixing tree guards on Link Road
