The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has initiated a bold move to clear over 3,000 abandoned vehicles cluttering Mumbai’s streets by outsourcing the task to contractors. This approach aims to bring efficiency and accountability to the process which had previously been marred by delays and coordination issues among various authorities.
Under the new policy, the BMC will appoint one contractor each for the island city, eastern suburbs and western suburbs. These contractors will oversee the identification, storage and scrapping of unclaimed vehicles over a three year period. The traffic department will supervise the operations ensuring smooth execution.
“We estimate there are more than 3,000 abandoned vehicles across Mumbai,” said a civic official from the traffic department. “The tender is for the scrapping of these vehicles left unclaimed on municipal roads.”
Streamlining a Cumbersome Process
Earlier, multiple agencies like the traffic police, Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) and BMC ward offices handled abandoned vehicles. This fragmented system often led to delays due to staff shortages and tedious coordination. The old policy required wards to identify vehicles issue a 48-hour notice to owners and follow a lengthy process involving NOCs and auctions.
The new contractor led system simplifies this. Contractors will identify and photograph abandoned vehicles, record GPS locations and manage the paperwork with support from the BMC. Once the vehicles are removed, they will be stored at designated locations until scrapped responsibly. The contractors will oversee the entire lifecycle from identification to scrapping, under guidelines set by the encroachment removal department.
“The contractors must follow the end-to-end process, from identifying and scrapping the vehicle to obtaining NOCs as per the norms set by the encroachment removal department,” he said.
Environmental and Financial Benefits
Contractors will scrap the vehicles and deposit the revenue from scrap sales into the BMC’s municipal funds. This prevents abandoned vehicles from piling up in scrapyards and ensures environmentally responsible disposal.
“Contractors will handle every step, ensuring efficiency and compliance,” said Mahendra Agarwal, chief engineer (traffic). The BMC has also ensured that the contractors chosen will have relevant experience enabling them to meet environmental and legal standards.
“The contractor will store the vehicles at a designated plot—either leased or owned—and will pursue the necessary clearances from the relevant authorities, with correspondence from the BMC,” said the official from the traffic department.
Extended Tender Deadline
While the original tender deadline passed without response, the BMC has extended it by two weeks to attract more applicants. Officials remain optimistic that experienced contractors will step forward to take on the project, ultimately transforming Mumbai’s streetscape.
This initiative reflects the BMC’s commitment to creating cleaner and safer roads for Mumbai residents while addressing a long-standing issue with a practical, organised approach.