The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has collected a substantial INR 1.55 crore in fines over the past four months. This comes as a result of the revitalised clean-up marshal programme, which has seen over 53,725 individuals penalised for various public hygiene infractions, including littering and spitting.
The clean-up marshal programme, reintroduced on April 2 after a two-year hiatus, deploys 858 marshals across Mumbai’s 24 wards. These marshals, employed through private agencies, have the authority to issue fines ranging from INR 100 to INR 1,000 for offences such as littering, urinating, and defecating in public. The initiative aims to enhance urban cleanliness and uphold public hygiene standards.
According to senior officials, the majority of fines have been issued for spitting, with the highest concentration of penalties recorded in A ward. This area, which includes high-traffic zones like Churchgate, Colaba, and Navy Nagar, has experienced a surge in violations due to its large floating population. In total, A ward has accounted for INR 31.33 lakh in fines, with 15,550 people penalised.
The next highest collections were observed in R/Central ward (Borivali), which generated INR 14.04 lakh from 3,613 violators. Following this, K/East ward (Andheri East) and R/South ward (Kandivali) contributed INR 11.39 lakh and INR 10.71 lakh in fines, respectively. In contrast, T ward (Mulund) reported the lowest fines, amounting to INR 1.41 lakh from just 183 individuals, attributed to its limited number of marshals.
The renewed programme also introduces digital advancements; marshals now use a digital app for issuing receipts, replacing the previous handwritten system. However, the programme has faced challenges in larger wards such as K/West (Andheri, Juhu, Versova) and P/North (Malad), where no fines have been recorded due to contractor issues. Despite these hurdles, the overall initiative reflects a significant effort by the BMC to address urban cleanliness and enforce hygiene regulations across the city.
