Mumbai BMC Elections 2026: Mahayuti Manifesto Promises 50% Women’s Concession On BEST, Rs 17,000 Crore For Clean Air and Water
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena and Republican Party of India (RPI) on Sunday, January 11, jointly released the Mahayuti alliance’s manifesto for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections 2026. The manifesto outlined a vision of urban development, modern infrastructure, and sustainable growth for Mumbai. The manifesto was unveiled at a joint press conference at Mumbai’s BKC in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister RPI leader Dr Ramdas Athawale, and BJP leader Ameet Satam.
Key Manifesto Highlights
Housing: CM Devendra Fadnavis, while addressing the press conference, promised affordable homes for citizens, including free housing with the support of the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA). Moreover, he said redevelopment projects would ensure larger, better-quality homes for residents.
Transportation: In the manifesto, the Mahayuti promised major upgrades to Mumbai’s suburban railway network, 50 per cent travel concession for women commuters travelling on BEST buses, a switch to electric vehicles, expansion of water transport services, and a significant boost to public transport by increasing the BEST bus fleet from 5,000 to 10,000 buses.
Promise for ‘flood-free Mumbai’: The manifesto promised that the city would be free from inundation within five years by adopting Japanese techniques and collaborating with institutions such as IIT and VJTI for measures. Fadnavis added that a research group from the IIT will study the city’s topography, and that the plan included constructing four new underground floodwater tanks and revamping existing drainage lines, alongside expediting work on the BRIMSTOWAD 2 project.
Environment: CM Fadnavis told reporters that if voted to power, they aim to ensure 100 per cent treatment of liquid waste before discharge into the sea and convert garbage into electricity. He also announced an investment of Rs 17,000 crore to improve water and air quality, reduce carbon emissions, and make Mumbai a sustainable city.
Artificial Intelligence: The manifesto also focused on leveraging “Japanese technology” in local governance to address persistent civic issues and deliver services directly to citizens’ mobile devices. It emphasized the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to reduce corruption, accelerate approvals, and enhance public service efficiency. “Our aim is a corruption-free municipal corporation,” Fadnavis stated, introducing the “Municipality on your Mobile” initiative and an AI-based platform designed to speed up building approvals and increase transparency in the real estate sector.
Bangladeshi Infiltrators: Speaking on Bangladeshi infiltrators in Mumbai, CM Fadnavis informed that the advanced AI-based tools developed with the help of IIT Bombay would be used to identify illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators.
Meanwhile, the manifesto came just a day after opposition leaders from Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) leaders targeted the BJP for not yet releasing its manifesto for the January 15 polls and asserted the ruling party has no vision for the metropolis.
In a post on X, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray said, “With just five days left for the polls, the BJP has no agenda, no vision or direction and no manifesto for the city of Mumbai.”