Mumbai, October 11 (Daily Kiran) : Concerns about air quality in Mumbai have intensified following the monsoon’s retreat. In response, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is tightening regulations on the management of construction debris. Starting Monday, vehicles transporting construction debris or excavation materials without an authorized Vehicle Tracking and Monitoring System (VTMS) will face a fine of ₹25,000.
Additionally, any construction projects not registered on the BMC’s Mumbai Debris Control and Tracking System (MDCTS) portal will incur the same penalty for each violation. This initiative comes amid growing worries over illegal debris disposal and its impact on the environment and air quality in the city. The BMC has instructed officials across all 26 municipal wards to conduct immediate inspections and take action against rule violations.
Mumbai generates over 8,000 tons of construction and demolition debris daily, significantly exceeding the city’s processing capacity. The combined capacity of two processing centers located in Dahisar and Shilphata is only about 1,200 tons per day. This disparity has led to an increase in illegal dumping practices.
Reports indicate that construction debris is frequently discarded along roadsides, vacant lots, drains, creeks, reservoirs, and mangrove areas. To enhance monitoring of debris transport and disposal, the BMC launched the MDCTS portal on August 24. This digital platform aims to track debris from its production site to authorized disposal or processing centers.
Through this portal, municipal officials can monitor vehicles transporting debris in real-time. It also aids in identifying vehicles deviating from designated routes and spotting suspicious cases of illegal dumping.
The BMC has made registration on the portal mandatory for contractors, government agencies, and private developers. Registered entities must submit a comprehensive debris management plan. Furthermore, vehicles carrying debris are required to be equipped with GPS-enabled VTMS devices and adhere to specified transport routes.
According to BMC data, from August 24 to October 9, the MDCTS portal recorded a total of 220 registrations. This includes 109 builders and developers, 44 transporters, 19 BMC contractors, 17 external buyers of debris and soil, 15 corporate entities, and four government agencies. Notably, no individual citizens have registered on the portal during this period.
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