Water tax freeze, 35 lakh homes, women’s fare cut in buses headline Mahayuti BMC manifesto

Among the headline promises is a moratorium on hikes in water tax for five years and completion of major water supply projects such as Gargai, Pinjal and Damanganga within the next five years. The alliance also committed Rs 17,000 crore for environmental conservation initiatives.

On housing and urban renewal, the manifesto pledges a slum free Mumbai, construction of 20 to 35 lakh homes, fast-tracking redevelopment projects, and providing homes of up to 350 sq ft within Dharavi itself as part of its redevelopment. It also promises to speed up the implementation of policies aimed at a rent-free pagdi-mukt Mumbai and address funnel zone issues.

Transport and mobility feature prominently, with a commitment to make BEST fully electric by 2029, double the fleet from 5,000 to 10,000 buses, and offer a 50 per cent fare concession for women. The alliance also announced interest-free loans of up to Rs 5 lakh for women to promote self-employment and small enterprises.

Other pledges include establishing cold storage facilities for fish vendors in BMC markets, renovating and redeveloping vegetable markets, setting up fish import and export centres, launching a startup incubation centre, and framing a 2034 development plan for the city. Cultural initiatives outlined include a separate Marathi language department in the civic body, Marathi art centres and libraries, special programmes for the Marathi youth to mark Balasaheb Thackeray’s birth centenary, and redevelopment of theatres on the lines of Ravindra Natya Mandir, with three new theatres if required.

The manifesto also promises a dedicated tourism department, a world-class museum at Hutatma Chowk, and a drive to make Mumbai free of illegal Rohingya and Bangladeshi immigrants.