The Aam Aadmi Party recognizes the need for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to be accountable in its functions of planning, organizing, coordinating, staffing, directing, and budgeting, while being rational and efficient to heighten public trust. It aims to establish itself upon the effective foundations of the BMC Act 1888, intending to create 100% transparency in government policies, transactions, and tenders.

We envisage complete transparency within project progress, through quarterly or half-yearly report formulation – with outcome-based budgeting and a qualitative analysis of policies, by employing output and outcome indicators. The Aam Aadmi Party seeks to expand the municipal budget for education, water, electricity and public transport; with a special focus on capital expenditure and 100% budget utilization in developmental works – such as primary healthcare provision, BMC schools, BEST buses, and DP roads. Rationalized budgets and improved utilizations will generate savings – allowing the BMC to provide subsidies in public utilities, like water and electricity.

We seek to set up a formal system to address complaints, bolstered by monthly reports of progress within the complaints department for appropriate redressal of all issues encountered within project implementation and tender allocations – with detailed project reports – being made available for public use without the invocation of the RTI. Complete digitization of all the documents and procedures within the BMC in order to reduce corruption is necessary to ensure a smoother and unencumbered provision of government services thereafter. 

Animal welfare is one of the most important yet neglected social issues in Mumbai. Independent estimates claim that Mumbai has over 2,50,000 dogs and 50,000 cows along with other animals, like cats and monkeys, scattered across the city. The Aam Aadmi Party believes that animal health and safety are essential to Mumbai’s urban ecosystem, and animal welfare must remain as a vital part of the BMC agenda.

A mass vaccination drive will be conducted to tackle the ongoing problem of rabies (with the current number of total rabies cases being upwards of 36,000), and the rising issue of distemper. The Aam Aadmi Party wants to implement adoption drives, along with existing sterilization and food provision drives under the BMC – to increase public participation in animal support and welfare. We further intend to increase the number of veterinary hospitals, animal care centres equipped with modern diagnostic technology, to ensure quality medical treatment of animals. The installation of veterinary hospitals is imperative, as there are no BMC clinics for animals, and the city relies on charitable hospitals.

Development of polyclinics will also be undertaken to provide specialized treatment to animals. Major steps would be taken on the way to save the birds and getting back sparrows and squirrels including planting  local fruit trees in public gardens on a large scale and public engagement activities involving feeders and volunteers to create a harmonious space for the  birds to exist with us.

The Aam Aadmi Party’s business objectives are to promote policies that are conducive to creating more jobs, better opportunities, and a stronger economy – poised to swiftly recover from the Covid-19 economic downturn. While the BMC has seeked to implement reform for Mumbai’s EoDB, it is still encumbered by red-tapism and non-transparency. Furthermore, construction sanctions are complicated and time-consuming, and lead to cost escalation, which is then transferred to flat buyers. It is of utmost importance that paperwork be reduced and application processing be expedited.

AAP aims to make the licensing/NOC process completely transparent and streamline all approvals under the BMC departments – for construction activities, shopkeeping, restaurants, business set-ups, and other relevant commercial approvals required from the Municipal Corporation. According to the Department of Justice of the Union Law Ministry, disposal of commercial disputes should take up to 164 days, whereas in Mumbai it takes up to 182 days. We are committed to expediting the rate of approvals, reducing limitations on unnecessary administrative processes, and investing in technology and digital platforms for a more seamless and hassle-free process with a single-window clearance, and with a target of ‘zero visits’ needed to any BMC offices. We will also ensure that starting a commercial set-up or business in Mumbai takes a maximum clearance period of one week. As vital stakeholders, the participation of traders in the framing of trade policies will be encouraged. Our main goal is to strengthen Mumbai’s status as an international business hub.

Post COVID-19, the aim is to support the affected businesses through proactive government policies to bring about business dynamism. AAP-Mumbai also aito enable shops and establishments to be free of harassment from government officials, and to swiftly recover from the effects of the pandemic. Shopkeepers, retailers, and restaurateurs will be empowered through the enactment of phased reductions in property tax, granting concessions in statutory and excise license fees.. Subsidizing water, education and healthcare will be beneficial to commerce, as this increases the disposable incomes of the citizens, allowing market demand to recover exponentially.

The focus will be to provide identity cards to the vendors and the hawkers as proof of conducting business legally. We will ensure that during the redevelopment of the natural markets, street vendors and hawkers are accommodated into the main market planning – through designated flea markets, and in alignment with the zonal town vending committees. AAP aims to recognize the informal sector, so that health check-ups and pension schemes can be given to close to 3 lakh hawkers and 3,50,000 street vendors in Mumbai. Furthermore, our objective is to make the licensing process easier using Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) initiatives, so that the hawking pitches can be rightly allocated and the right to livelihood is judicially upheld. Additionally, the pedestrians’ rights and concerns will also be addressed whilst ensuring that the creation of hawking pitches does not obstruct traffic or pedestrian pathways. 

Our primary objectives for the informal sector shall also include holding a census-based survey in 2022. The BMC failed to hold the 2019 census as a result of which only 1,28,443 forms in 2019 to vendors, out of the 3,50,000. Vending pitches will be allocated to vendors and constitute TVCs with elected vendor representatives, according to the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014. The party will also work towards removing operational barriers, such as domicile requirements.

Every human being is entitled to lead a safe and healthy life in a sound environment. The Aam Aadmi Party-Mumbai envisions a proactive and effective disaster-resilient framework to prevent, mitigate, protect, respond, and recover the life and property of people. We aim for the establishment of a strong network to support the lead agencies of the 14 Emergency Support Functions, like relief supplies, transport, energy, paramedics, etc. in collaboration with Mumbai’s District Disaster Management Authorities, NGOs, and CSOs.

With the intention of preventing disasters, we will enforce safety regulations to prevent house collapses, mud slides, retaining wall breaches & storm water drain blockages, increasing the capacity of the Storm Water Drainage System, and to conduct an annual structural audit of drains and repair them as deemed fit. We aim to unfold artificial wetlands in open spaces of 5 educational institutions and government lands to act as natural drainage systems. AAP targets to rehabilitate people at least 100-200m away from the reservoirs located in the hill slopes to prevent any possible casualties from landslides, as well as design slope vegetation and terracing along with biodegradable netting with coir, to strengthen the slopes, and for the preservation and protection of natural vegetation.

AAP-Mumbai seeks to monitor and execute timely inspections of the dilapidated buildings on an annual basis and retrofit those post-structural audits along with the provision of temporary shelter, till the buildings have been refurbished and reconstructed according to the stipulated guidelines. During a calamity, Mumbai must have an administrative ward-wise medical support plan aimed at minimizing logistical constraints like travel time, with neighboring hospitals and paramedics in safe zones duly informed. We must aim to facilitate the conduction of evacuation drill practice on an annual basis across all educational institutions, workplaces, and for the public at large with an emphasis on specially-abled people. We emphasize on fire prevention through diligent inspections with follow ups till rectification of fire hazards, and rooting out corruption in the issue of NOCs.

CASE 1: 22 major lanes are missing from Mumbai in the last 50 years- according to DP 1967.

Problem: In 50 years, no new roads have been built, widened or connected. Mumbai is a wide city- so to travel from Bandra to Borivali (and vice-versa), is difficult – as there are only 22 lanes – 10 Highway lanes, 8 lanes through Link Road, and 6 lanes through SV Road. To reach their destination, the vehicles move towards either Link Road, SV Road, or the Highway – limiting the options available to the travellers, and burdening these 3 major roads. The reason for why no new lanes have been created is due to the lack of coordination between different government agencies like the BMC, Forest Department, MMRDA, Food Corporation of India, and other State and Central authorities. Land disputes, Ownership of land by private agencies, illegal encroachment of slums add to the problem as well.

Solution- According to the DP 1967- Mumbai can become more connected, by introducing 22 new lanes – as there are 8 lanes and 6 lanes parallel to the East and West Side of the Western Express Highway, respectively; and there are 8 lanes parallel to the Link Road. The original roadways map shows that many of the roads lead to a dead end. In fact, in some places, just a 100-meter patch needs to be completed to enable passengers to reach Bandra without taking a highway. If these linking roads or connected points are made, it will lead to reduced travel time and traffic congestion. Internal Roads need to be built and improved upon, so that they can be presented as alternatives to highways, reducing the burden on the major roads.

CASE 2: Inaccessibility to the BMC Women Hospital in Borivali

Problem: BMC’s Women and Children Hospital in Borivali is almost inaccessible. Due to the free treatment offered by the hospital, several pregnant women travel from villages in Palghar and Vangav to Borivali to access the treatment. Right now, due to a missing link from the Western Express Highway to the hospital, these underprivileged women have to spend 50-60 rupees extra to reach the hospital, which is a huge financial burden on them. The road that reaches the hospital is also very narrow, so fire brigades also cannot use the lanes easily. Moreover, it takes a longer time, which is a health burden on pregnant women close to delivery.

Solution– BMC can simply connect a 36-metre road from Tata Power to Siddhartha Nagar so that these women can reach the Hospital faster without paying too much for the travel. This will also help reduce big traffic movement between the Thakur village and Borivali station on the Western Express Highway.

CASE 3: Traffic Congestion on roads must be reduced

Problems: Traffic congestion is due to several reasons. Several road projects like the Sea Link, Coastal Road, and major highways have been proposed and implemented to reduce travel time. Coastal Road and other flyovers are essentially bottle-neck roads, and do not really help in reducing traffic time by that much. They are expensive projects that just result in the loss of massive green cover as well.

According to an RTI filed, around Rs. 110 crores are spent to fill in potholes. 30% of Mumbai’s roads are illegally occupied by private cars, abandoned vehicles, vans, tempos, school and tourist buses, etc. – leading to major traffic jams. There are also illegal stalls and structures present on the roads.

Solution– To help reduce the stress in the lives of the Mumbaikars, few easy measures must be implemented. Quality roads should be built at the get-go, so as to reduce the money being spent on filling potholes, and also reduce the chances of traffic jams happening. Pedestrians have the right to walk on constructed footpaths without facing any obstructions by encroachment. Multi-storeyed Vertical Parking Terminals must be created especially for BEST bus depots. BEST bus stops must adhere to the “no bus stop within 150 meters of any road junction” law. This will help in reducing road accidents as well. Abandoned and parked cars must be towed after warnings are given, so as to free up space on the roads. Most importantly, the Development Plan 1967 must be revisited so that the missing lanes can be created to help improve the traffic network connectivity in Mumbai.

Internal roads that can be created:

• Dahisar Check naka to Kaju Pada
• SGNP to Kulupwadi
• Devipada to Tata Power House
• Siddharth Nagar to Thakur Village
• Mahindra and Mahindra to Lokhandwala Kandivali East
• Kurar Village Malad East to Dindoshi

Quality civic education is instrumental in addressing learning and opportunity challenges. The Aam Aadmi Party Mumbai believes that equitable access to education must be championed as a fundamental right to create a more just and equal Mumbai. This affords every child the ability and the opportunity to bridge the significant gaps that often unfairly dictate the trajectory of their lives. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has consistently failed Mumbai’s schoolchildren through misappropriation of funds, underutilization, and underinvestment. 

In 2016-17, 29,186 students left the BMC school system, and between 2015-16 to 2017-18, Upper Primary Schools (UPS), run by the BMC, saw a -22% year-on-year enrolment rate. The BMC has endangered the safety of children by outsourcing security requirements and underfunding the installation of CCTV cameras at schools. Teachers are forced to take on administrative duties due to a lack of administrative staff, which affects the quality of education they can impart. They are also overworked due to a shortage of teachers. Between 2009-19, 257 BMC schools were shut down and leased to private entities, further affecting access to education. 

The Aam Aadmi Party-Mumbai recognizes the importance and power of good quality education and seeks to restructure Mumbai’s civic school system to cater to students of all backgrounds and learning abilities. To this end, we envision increasing the education budget to at least 12% of the current budget. Taking the budget of 2021-22, this would accrue to approximately Rs. 4,690 crores as compared to the current allocation of Rs. 2,945.78 crores. A provision of Rs. 1,00,00,000 per school will be made to tackle the issue of ailing infrastructure, over 5 years. Targeting all schools within Mumbai would cost approximately 4.7% of AAP’s proposed education budget every year. The intent is to make all BMC schools comprehensive – from KG to 10th Grade, for which purpose, all classroom infrastructure will be digitized to sustain and improve learning and teaching outcomes over the entire course of a child’s education.                  

Teacher & administrative training programs will be undertaken on a large scale to enhance the ability to impart an education that suits all learning groups and improves learning outcomes from lower classes onwards. Quality checks on the teaching pedagogy and outcomes must be emphasized upon; this will help reduce disparities that have continued to exist at the secondary school level across Mumbai. A fund of Rs. 43,00,00,000 for the distribution of e-learning resources will be created to ensure that all children have access to a virtual education. Rs. 15,00,00,000 per quarter will be earmarked for the data requirements. 

The Party also seeks to guarantee access to science labs, computer labs, and revamp playgrounds and sports facilities in every secondary and MPS school over 5 years, to ensure that students gain a scientific temperament through a more hands-on approach. The construction of two new toilets per academic year at every BMC school is also a party prerogative to solve the problem of woeful sanitation and reduce female students dropping out at a disproportionate rate. We also target the introduction of an app that allows teenage students to interact with professional psychologists and form monitored peer-support groups.

The Aam Aadmi Party further seeks to increase the revenue budget for the education sector, while emphasizing on 100% utilization, to appoint more administrative staff and fill all vacant teacher positions immediately. School Management Committees will also be strengthened to create accountability on a grassroots level and allow parents a more significant say in school proceedings. A provision of free BEST bus passes to all BMC school students managed by the SMCs will be made by the party to allow greater education access. We will also strictly enforce the provision of 17 free school utilities that the BMC students are entitled to every year but rarely receive currently. BMC schools will focus on educating students about women’s issues, primarily menstrual health, and raise awareness through seminars, talks, etc., which will ideally go a long way in reducing the dropout rate among female students. 

The Aam Aadmi Party Mumbai envisions effective planning and resource mobilization to provide a cost-effective power supply, by incentivizing high-end users with the deduction of half their electricity bill and for low-end users with electricity at no charge.

We envisage providing free electricity for up to 200 units through BEST, and simplifying the tariff model of BEST, minimizing red-tapism and maximizing customer compliance, while also incrementally expanding BEST’s electricity coverage over Mumbai’s suburbs. The party is dedicated to creating provisions for subsidized meters, and ensuring last-mile connectivity in slums through BEST and incentivizing slum-dwellers to get authorized connections. BEST would buy power from the state distribution company and save around Rs 700 crore per annum, which will be used for providing the aforementioned subsidies, which amount to 438 crores.

Mumbai’s administration needs to expedite the electrification of Mumbai’s transport to reduce dependence on expensive fuel and improve savings/margins for all. BEST shall facilitate electrification through the provision of charging stations. Additionally, we aim to eliminate the connection fees and minimize documentation for legal connections, with the objective to reduce dependency on power distribution from local illegal suppliers. Financial support will be provided by allowing the fee to be paid in installments, to help low-income consumers to overcome the upfront barriers to becoming legal customers.

The Aam Aadmi Party Mumbai is strongly committed to fulfilling the ideals of sustainable urbanization. We reject the false choice between growing our economy and combating climate change; we can and must do both at the same time. We will work tirelessly towards finding the perfect balance between development and sustainability, integrating it into all planning and policies. 

Mumbai’s natural infrastructure includes 3500 hectares of Mangrove swamps, 2145 hectares acres of Salt Pans, 29,75,283 lakh trees (as per 2018 census), 1,278 hectares of Aarey Milk Colony, 4 major rivers flowing through the city, 71 km² of creeks and mangroves along its coastline, and 104 km² reserved for the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. The Party will fight for the restoration of wetlands like salt pans and mangroves, which act as natural carbon sinks and are critical for protecting communities from the rising sea level and storm surge. There has been a 65% increase in tree cutting in 2019, and this is in comparison to the situation in 2018 – where 24 trees were being cut each day. These green areas are treasures that should be preserved for future generations; they will be expanded upon and preserved. Our target is to declare the entire Aarey Colony as protected (change the protected area from 323 hectares to 1,278 hectares) along with the SNGP – to protect the Adivasi communities, 70 species of birds, 86 species of butterflies, reptiles, and wildflowers. We will work towards the regeneration of 1000 acres of surplus port lands, which are not required for port operations. The Eastern Waterfront from Sewree to Darukhana must be utilized for public amenities and parks and playgrounds.

Cutting down the expenditure on heavy transport projects that have negative impacts on the environment is key in controlling Mumbai’s pollution levels (e.g., Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project). The alternative proposed is to increase investments in public transportation systems like the bus, metro, and railways systems. For half the estimated cost (Rs 12,721 crores) of the Coastal Road Project, bus and railway transport systems could have been improved by investing just 2,700 crores and 4,500 crores, respectively, which would have helped in resolving the problem of traffic congestion by tenfold, without additional air pollution. Additionally, we aim to work towards sustaining the livelihoods of the Koliwada fishing communities, while also preserving coastal ecosystems as these measures are crucial for the city’s sustainability.

AAP will promote electrification, and incentivize industries to switch to cleaner fuels to address Mumbai’s rising PM_2.5 levels. The party will further work to partner with NGOs to address the sewage dumped in rivers and tackle water shortages faced by all the citizens by promoting technologies for decentralized wastewater management – which will use smaller, more affordable systems to treat wastewater closer to the point of generation, enabling more effective water reuse for toilet flushing and gardening. Our most important objective will be to seek engagement from all stakeholders and residents in open dialogue to make Mumbai a sustainable city and ensure a sustainable future for all.

The Mumbai Fire Brigade has the reputation of being the best in India, and we believe that our excellent fire department must be empowered to achieve its greatest potential for prevention and response measures – through target-oriented policies and support. We emphasize fire prevention through diligent inspections, with follow-ups till rectification of fire hazards. The party aims to enhance planning and preventing fires to safeguard people and property; efficiently responding to building collapses, drownings, gas leakage, oil spillage, accidents, etc; and taking appropriate action during natural disasters with effective organization and resource mobilization, to amplify responsiveness and minimize loss of life & property. Accessibility for fire vehicles must be ensured at the planning stage of every new development and construction. Continuous upgradation of technology for the fire department will remain a policy priority for the Aam Aadmi Party.

To improve access to narrow lanes and slum areas, AAP aims to invest in introducing more light vans (1 van per 50,000 people, total – 300) and motorbike fire services (1 motorbike per 25,000, total – 600). Furthermore, we want to prioritize new training protocols, which include real-time simulation to upgrade the existing firefighting skills, setting up mock drills every 3 Months, and regular random inspections being conducted to ensure compliance. We aim at the priority classification of high-risk areas by GIS Modelling to identify hazardous zones for resource optimization, along with the introduction of internal GPS for large building complexes. A transparent and target-based financial management is also in the works to increase the budget utilization of the department. Rooting out corruption in the issue of NOCs, enhancing transparency and effective utilization of funds is of priority for the AAP.

The Aam Aadmi Party’s vision for healthcare in Mumbai is to develop and facilitate a robust and efficient three-tier healthcare system, providing easy access to quality healthcare to Mumbaikers for free or at a nominal cost for its upper-class patrons. The current state of healthcare in Mumbai is compromised and does not meet the aforementioned standards. Quality healthcare is a basic human right and should be available to all, irrespective of class, caste, gender, religion, or sexual orientation.

Our overarching vision for the city of Mumbai is the complete revitalization of the healthcare system of Mumbai. There is a pressing need for the restructuring of the system to make it more organized and accessible. Addressing the root issues of access, cost, and quality means looking at healthcare in a way that is localized and area-specific – decentralizing healthcare into three tiers allows issues to be dealt with and solved on a small scale, reducing bureaucratic involvement and ensuring better supervision and control.

To deliver this, we envisage creating a robust, distinctly categorized, three-tier health system. This includes building Primary Clinics and refurbishing existing secondary and tertiary clinics with an active referral system to shift the OPD load. For the pilot stage, we aim at the construction of Primary Clinics pertaining to the AAP Mohalla Clinic model, starting in Wards with a higher number of EWS and lower per capita amenities which includes wards M(E), L, N, S, P (N), H(E), K(E). 

One of the primary objectives is to provide free comprehensive primary healthcare at the municipal level for all, which includes consultations, tests, diagnostics, medicines, vaccinations, etc.  To ensure that the health services are of decent quality, there will be a compulsory accreditation of all the municipal health facilities based on many factors. Mobile Clinics for primary care will be introduced to be used by patients who don’t have regular access to stationary clinics with the target demographic being daily wage laborers, and the clinics being stationed in areas frequented by them.

We seek to implement the “Farishte Programme”, through which monetary rewards will be dispensed to good Samaritans, who take victims of road accidents to the hospital. Furthermore, the party will also provide increased incentives for health professionals to work in the municipal health centers. In addition to job security, stability, and other usual government perks, doctors will be paid per patient that consults them (similar to the practice in Delhi Mohalla Clinics). Ensuring accountability of the MCGM will be a priority. For transparency of utilization of the health budget, the Party will make the records of where funds are being directed public. A helpline will be set up, where patrons can complain or ask any queries regarding services in the health clinics. 

With rapid urbanization expediting the rate of population growth, Mumbai faces a severe crisis of a continually growing population and a lack of space to accommodate them. Home to over 1.3 crore people, the lack of accessibility to adequate housing remains one of the most concerning civic issues in Mumbai. To live in a safe and secure environment with access to basic amenities such as electricity, water and sanitation is one of the most basic human requirements.

To this end, the Aam Aadmi Party Mumbai envisions providing sustainable housing to all individuals regardless of class or caste. Over 8 lakh people live in around 16,000 dilapidated buildings across Mumbai, which presents the potential of grave injury to their lives. There have been more than 300 deaths in Mumbai in building collapses since 2013 and 3,945 accidents in the past six years. To prevent further injury to persons, it is of paramount importance to repair, remove and redevelop 443 dilapidated buildings in Mumbai by 2022.We also aim to fast-track the repair work of 50 of the most dilapidated buildings in the N ward (Ghatkopar) and H West Ward (Bandra West).

However, one of the most pertinent issues faced by the BMC when it comes to providing adequate housing to all its constituents is the acute space crunch faced by Mumbai. To provide subsidized housing to the citizens in Mumbai, over 60% of whom live in despicable conditions in the slum regions, the Party intends to create a base of affordable rental housing, targeted towards the city’s poorest families who find it difficult to find proper housing. This model will intervene within the problem of developing more houses in the already congested metropolitan area, and also to ensure the possibility of temporary re-settlement. Additionally, the option of shared ownership for low and middle-income group families, in partially owned government houses, will also be directed towards the problem of providing adequate housing to all the citizens of Mumbai. Building night shelters for the homeless will go a long way in ensuring no one has to sleep in the open. Groups of old, dilapidated buildings or slums can be clubbed in a cluster for redevelopment, and could be defined as an ‘Urban Renewal Cluster’ of a minimum Size of 4,000 Sq.m to 10,000 Sq.m. 

A time-bound plan of action for providing all households in Mumbai with piped water and sewage networks in all residential areas without discrimination, irrespective of their legal status is the need of the hour. Access to free lifeline water of up to 20 kiloliters (20,000 liters) per month for every household through metered water connections will be made available which will provide free water to about 75% of the city population. An EMI payment scheme will also be set up for people from low-income brackets to opt for a sewage connection for their households, to reduce the financial burden of getting a connection.

To live and work in hygienic conditions is not an opportunity that should be made available to those with the privilege to access it, but as a right to be provided by the government for all persons, regardless of the social or economic capital that they are privy to. Therefore, dedicating time and resources towards developing a sustainable and efficient infrastructure for hygiene becomes of utmost importance to cater to the urban masses and guarantee a safe and healthy way of life.

A recycle mandate will be implemented for the generated construction waste and debris (C&D) which comprises about 17% of the total waste produced in the MMR daily. This is to ensure that around 20% of the materials in any kind of construction work comes from recycled C&D, thus reducing the amount of C&D which is otherwise disposed of, while simultaneously creating a market for the recycled debris. For the responsible disposal and recycling of e-waste and recyclable plastic waste, the EPR scheme will be invoked, by incentivizing the sellers with tax exemption and the users with certain financial benefits. 

Decentralization of STPs and the waste management infrastructure is one of the party’s primary priorities. The Aam Aadmi Party intends to construct an in-situ sewage treatment system in accordance with the AAP-Delhi model, to reduce the budgetary demands otherwise required to dedicate land and develop infrastructure to build Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), as well as to reduce the sewage pressure on the Storm Water Drain System. Only 58% of households in Mumbai currently have access to a BMC mandated sewage connection. The remaining 42% of households without a connection will be incentivized to opt for sewage connections through the introduction of an EMI payment option to reduce the financial burden. 

Adhering to the UNDP guidelines, a project of constructing a minimum of 1 lakh public toilets will also be undertaken by the party to prevent open defecation practices, with public toilets being constructed specifically in the slum areas and with mobile toilets being set up outside communal toilets for night-time use. Parking areas are to be allocated outside public toilets, for ease of access. The stark disparity which exists between the number of male and female toilet seats (3,237 for women, 9,646 for men) needs to be corrected by improving infrastructure and allocating a section of the budget towards building more toilet seats for women. Constructing more toilets for women and connecting the toilet blocks with essential facilities such as electricity, water connection, and piped sewerage system will further provide access to clean toilets and also ensure safety from health and women harassment issues.

AAP-Mumbai also aims to set up rainwater harvesting to ensure that there is an appropriate amount of water collected to be used in the toilets, which will help in the reduction of the dependence on civic bodies, water tanks, and bore wells for water. Manual cleaning of septic tanks and open-pits will thereafter be replaced with mechanized alternatives, to prevent health issues amongst the Safai Karamcharis.  They will also be provided with adequate protective gear to handle the untreated waste, and better working conditions, like adequate access to drinking water, access to proper toilets, as well as paid leaves and proper health insurance.We want to increase the number of permanent employment positions for the Karamcharis under the corporation, as opposed to the contractual basis that the workers are hired on, at present.

Within the boundaries of personal, professional, and social institutions, acceptance of their sexuality, freedom to openly express their gender choices, and the lack of political representation remains a constant struggle for LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersexual and Asexual) people.

AAP-Mumbai envisions justice for, protection of, and support to the LGBTQIA+ community in Mumbai. Primarily the focus of the party lies in putting an end to any sort of harassment, abuse, and threats imposed on the community by the police, the healthcare institutions, the educational centers, and workplaces, by setting up independent supervisory bodies, helplines, and supporting stricter laws for the guilty. We aim to provide free AIDS treatment, COVID relief packages, and psychological help to all members of the queer community who want it. AAP also recognizes the fact that the community faces constant harassment at health institutions and aims to dedicate separate dispensaries and units exclusively for queer people to ensure their safety and comfort. The goal of setting up public toilets and creating LGBTQIA+ inclusive schools holds utmost priority to the party, and we wish to adopt the same reforms for the AAP Delhi model. The creation of Self Help Groups to develop the feeling of solidarity and to create a safe space for the members of the queer community holds great importance in the party’s vision. 

We further recognizes the great difficulties faced by the community in availing the benefits of government policies and schemes due to lack of proper documentation and plans on forming a committee to provide assistance and solutions to the community. Protection, education, and free resources for Transgender sex workers will be ensured. Additionally, we believe in empowering the community by setting up skill training centers and shelter homes to make sure that queer individuals are protected from exclusion, discrimination, and ill-treatment due to the lack of support from an administrative standpoint.

The main function of the Shops & Establishment Department under the MCGM is to enforce (inspect and prosecute under) the provisions of certain Labour enactments in the area of the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai such as the Bombay Shops & Establishment Act (1948), the Payment of Wages Act (1936), the Minimum Wages Act (1948), the Maternity Benefit Act and the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act (1986). However, it has been duly observed that the BMC itself, often fails to pay minimum wage (while often maintaining arrears) to volunteers and workers under primary sectors such as healthcare, education, hygiene, and construction, tripling the number of MCGM prosecutions under Minimum Wages Act violations between 2014-15 and 2016-17.

AAP Mumbai aims to ensure that the BMC guarantees remuneration under the Minimum Wages Act internally – by ensuring proper records of all full-time, contractual workers. We aim to establish “Aatmasamman Kendras” in all the wards of Mumbai, where migrant workers may register themselves to access government services, basic healthcare, skill development, training centers, legal services, and education for their children, amongst other facilities. We wish to assure a right to a peaceful existence for the senior citizens of the city below the poverty line, with financial assistance to the tune of Rs. 2500 per month. Furthermore, the party also aims to work tirelessly to protect the rights of the disabled by increasing the quantum of financial assistance to the disabled person living below the poverty line to the tune of Rs. 2500 per month. 

Mumbaikars have been denied access to clean open spaces for a long time. It has been almost 5 years since the city’s draft open space policy was scrapped in 2016 due to backlash from the opposition, and since then, Mumbai remains without a policy to manage its open spaces. According to the URDPFI, India should have a minimum of 10-12 square meters of open green space for every person while Mumbai offers only 1.24 square meters. Cutting the budget for the Garden Department of BMC by 50% in 2021 reflects the apathy of the BMC.  

The Aam Aadmi Party Mumbai strives to democratize access to open spaces for Mumbaikars. The party envisages achieving this by setting up a Phase-wise target of providing 2.5 sq.m of open space per person. Inconsistency of open spaces is discernible, especially in the Island city zone consisting of 9 wards, which render an open space area of only 658 Ha, whereas Eastern Suburbs having only 6 wards, cover an area of 1067 Ha under it. The Party aims to achieve ward-centric development by dividing the wards on their per-capita open space availability – and incorporating the Ward committees with the local community leaders, local volunteers, botanists, environmental scientists, hydrologists, and urban planners to address and tackle the issues at a grassroots level. 

AAP will advocate regeneration of 1000 acres of Port Lands not required for cargo operations into open spaces, public utilities, sports facilities and cultural centres for the citizens of Mumbai. The party seeks to increase the share of the budget towards open spaces. AAP vehemently opposes the leasing of open spaces for the sake of maintenance to private entities, acknowledging that this eventually leads to encroachment. We will supervise the BMC’s open spaces on a quarterly basis as a part of the outcome analysis of the budgets, and establish a task force to deal with the private encroachment of open spaces, with legislative backing. Having sufficient accessible green open spaces is a crucial ingredient to create sustainable cities and communities which is what we envision for the kaleidoscopic Mumbai.

The Aam Aadmi Party strives for food security in Mumbai and believes that a sufficient amount of essentials must be available, at all times, in all the places that can be easily accessible, at affordable prices to all people. To ensure all ration cardholders get the food they are entitled to, we must curb massive levels of corruption and malpractices that occur within the system. During the pandemic, illegal diversion of foodgrains has risen dramatically in Mumbai. The party also seeks to plug loopholes within the distribution system that tend to get exploited. To this effect, we envisage certain policy changes wherein Aadhaar card(s) will be linked to ration cards in an online process using a portal. To fulfill the biometric requirements, ration cardholders must be provided the option to submit their thumbprints at Fair Price Shops or Aadhaar card centers. Free ration should be provided to anyone with a ration card, with incomes having sharply decreased in the post-pandemic job market. Randomized inspections of godowns and Fair Price Shops must become more frequent. 

The primary objective of the BMC must be to restart child nutrition programs, including the implementation of the Mid-Day Meal Scheme to ensure that children meet their nutritional and caloric requirements. Grievance redressal systems will also be set up outside of the ambit of control of the ration officers that work independently to solve ration complaints. Regular audits of the number of registered SRC numbers existing within Mumbai will also be conducted by the party. Additionally, SMS services will also be made available to update users with all the necessary details such as how much a household is entitled to as and when new schemes are announced online through their ration card numbers. 

The need for an efficient and fast transportation network is paramount in a city like Mumbai that faces rapid population increase without no sizable physical expansion possible. More than 61% of the roads in Mumbai are categorized as average or poor. In 2019, approximately 9900 accidents were recorded due to potholes. Mumbai was ranked 27th among 30 Indian cities evaluated on their walkability by the Clean Air Initiative. The number of buses in BEST’s fleet has dropped by 21 percent from 4,200 to 3,300 buses between 2013 and 2018. With rampant road encroachment & digging, delayed infrastructure projects, and excessive dependence on private transport – developing a comprehensive transformation plan for Mumbai’s urban mobility has become a vital task.

Implementing policy changes, and creating effective plans will make urban mobility FAST- Frequent, Accessible, Sustainable & Clean, and Time-bound. The Party plans to adopt 10,000 electric buses, increasing investments in public transport ensuring a sustainable model of growth. Free transport for all women and students will be provided and a roadmap to install CCTV cameras and panic buttons will be set in place in all BEST buses. We propose to bring designated areas for bus, auto, taxi, and commercial vehicle parking around the city. The surplus floor space of BEST bus depots must be designated as parking spaces for private vehicles, auto-rickshaws, charging stations, etc., or for hawker rehabilitation, instead of leasing them off to commercial enterprises. Public property must remain in the public’s hand and be utilized for public benefit. Pedestrian crossings must be present every 80-100 m with proper signage. Major pedestrian crossings such as Church Gate, university, and fountain junctions will also be redesigned as scramble crossings. Footpath stretches must be constructed up to 4000 km, keeping in mind the needs of the disabled.

AAP Mumbai looks towards exploring all the possibilities to ensure zero potholes on roads via pre-emptive checking & repairing of potholes throughout the year by using scientific methods such as spray tech, chip seals, etc. BOT model (Build-Operate-Transfer) outlook to be taken into account for ensuring the zero pothole road system. The Party also envisages eliminating Toll nakas wherever the capital cost and expenses incurred in toll collection have been recovered; and steps for the 100% implementation of FAST-Tags in all toll booths will also be undertaken. We aim to build inter-state bus transit terminals at all the 3 entry points to Mumbai, where the commercial vehicles can park all day, then enter the city at 10 pm. We must put an absolute stoppage to the entry of interstate buses inside Mumbai, by building Inter-State Bus Terminuses (ISBTs) outside the 3 entry-points of Mumbai, and connecting the road infrastructure inside the city – to the ISBTs for passenger conveyance.

Provision of Passenger Water Transport (PWT) will be introduced, with special emphasis on exploring the feasibility of water transport in Mumbai via its creek ports. The introduction of  ‘no-automobile zones’ in the busy market areas encourages non-motorized transport like bicycles, rickshaws, and walking which reduces traffic congestion. Additionally, enforcing ease of parking via apps using real-time maps, can provide both parking operators and drivers with information about available parking spaces. We also envision improving the auto drivers’ uniform and restructuring the auto-rickshaw stand policies to be more accommodative, ensuring connectivity across the city. A comprehensive plan will be brought forward for electric rickshaws and charging stations at regular intervals across the city. We further seek to create detailed plans for an integrated public transport project within the Mumbai constituency which aims to connect road, rail, and waterways. Introduction of an app that provides GPS, location, time, and schedule details of all government-owned vehicles will reduce the dependence on private cab services and allow for efficient commuting. The objective of the aforementioned policy changes within the transport sector is to ensure that all public transport services can be made inclusive and accessible to all persons, including individuals belonging to low-income backgrounds, or persons with disabilities. 

Labour welfare falls under the purview of the Department of Labour of the State Government. The informal sector in Mumbai is plagued with issues that require immediate structural reforms. Workers in unorganized industries are paid a pittance and as a result, workers from the unorganized sector form a considerable proportion of the population that lives in slums.

Nearly half the jobs in Mumbai are in the unorganized sector, where the concept of minimum wage is virtually non-existent. Employees do not pay taxes (or do not earn enough to pay/are unaware of taxes owing to illiteracy), do not have access to paid leaves, and frequently work in hazardous circumstances. Scrap collecting and roadside vending, particularly on the Dharavi and Khairani highways, are among two of the only available employment opportunities for the slum population. The pandemic has taken a toll on the informal sector in a country where one in five informal workers have monthly paid employment. Self-employment accounts for half of the workforce, evidence that the unorganized sector’s scope is not only broad but can also have dangerous repercussions without immediate action.                                                         

The Aam Aadmi Party envisages certain measures for the upliftment of the unorganized labor of Mumbai. We seek to provide target and skill-oriented training to youth aged between 18 and 25 years, as an attempt to improve the qualifications and skills of the unskilled and unorganized labor sector to help them improve their livelihood. Low-income groups’ rights to a dignified life must be protected at all costs – by the provision of free education and vocational training, quality primary healthcare through Mohalla clinics, as well as subsidized electricity and water.

Water supply is arguably the most notable problem that Mumbai faces, with over half of its population still residing in abject poverty in the slums areas, which constitute about 60% of Mumbai. While notification of slums has been actively pursued by past governments – the access to basic amenities continues to remain a frightening cause of concern – with excessive dependence on private suppliers and local water mafia. Water in Mumbai is collected and distributed by a system that is at least 100 years old and treated by the largest water treatment plant in Asia. The outdated system coupled with the outdated knowledge of how to properly operate and maintain it results in massive revenue loss. With water leaking out of the system, it puts even greater stress on being able to provide enough water to meet the citizens’ demands.

While we recognize that the BMC has taken steps to enhance water quality and been duly recognized for its’ achievements; the Aam Aadmi Party believes that critical resources like water, need to be conserved, augmented, and made available to people as a right, to which end it envisages providing access to clean water to all the citizens within Mumbai, priced fairly and accurately. Instituting a time-bound plan of action for providing all households in Mumbai with piped water and sewage networks in all (planned/non-planned, authorized/non-authorized, regularized/non-regularized) residential areas without discrimination, irrespective of their legal status is our primary objective. We will ensure access to free lifeline water of up to 20 kiloliters (20,000 liters) per month, for every household through metered water connections, which will provide free water to about 75% of the city population whilst guaranteeing 100% water metering.

Almost 30 percent of Mumbai’s water is allegedly lost to leaks and theft. A comprehensive and watertight 5-year-plan is also in the works which will focus purely on controlling the leaks and bursts in the water pipes seeking to largely reduce the gross wastage of water. To avoid these, flow meters will be installed, which can massively increase the efficiency of the water distribution. We will ensure 100% collection and treatment of Mumbai’s sewage through the conception of decentralized sewage management & treatment plants.

The preservation and replenishment of the local and decentralized water resources is one of the key objectives that we will be focusing on which will further be used to initiate schemes for rainwater harvesting.

Economic disparity is a heartbreaking reality in Mumbai that has a long-lasting impact on the most vulnerable populace in any society – children. Economic inequality creates deterrents in accessing basic needs and rights from a very early age, which goes on to obstruct any potential a child might have. The Aam Aadmi Party envisions a Mumbai where children are given security and opportunities to lead lives that are not dictated by their economic position. 

We wish to take the legacy of the mid-day meal scheme in Delhi forward by adopting the same model for Mumbai. This not only ensures proper nutrition for the students but also helps in increasing enrollment rates in public schools. Free health checkups for all students in mohalla centers protects children’s health and ensuring proper facilities and care for specially-abled children creates an inclusive learning environment. Libraries and science labs will be set up at all BMC schools over a five-year period.

Online platforms will be  set up for psychological help, career guidance, and academic assistance for all students. Psychologists will be invited to hold regular seminars for parents and students during PTMs organised by School Management Committees. Additionally, the party will work with NGOs to educate children on their rights and laws and would publicize Childline- the national child safety helpline, to protect every child in distress. Through regular inspections and financial aid,  the condition of orphanages can also be drastically improved.