BMC’s 17-Crore Housing Project for Conservancy Staff Delayed; Ex-BJP Corporator Demands Urgent Action

Mumbai: Nearly 10 months after the Bhoomi Pujan ceremony of Ashray Yojana—a ₹17-crore housing project for the conservancy staff of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)—construction work has yet to begin. This delay has sparked concern among civic representatives, with former BJP corporator Makarand Narwekar urging the BMC to act swiftly or face legal consequences.

The project, located at Cochin Street in Fort, was announced with much fanfare in October 2024. It was designed to provide 54 housing units, each measuring 238 sq ft, to conservancy workers—personnel who play a critical role in maintaining Mumbai's sanitation and public hygiene. However, as of August 2025, there has been no visible progress on the ground.

In a strongly worded letter to BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, Narwekar stated, “If immediate steps are not taken to commence the project on a war-footing, we will be compelled to raise this matter vigorously across all appropriate platforms, including the courts.”

He emphasized the vital contributions of conservancy workers, not just in routine waste management, but also in large-scale operations such as deep clean drives and emergency sanitation during monsoons and public health crises. According to him, the failure to act promptly on their housing needs highlights a disturbing lack of commitment to their welfare.
 

Political Pressure Mounts Over Inaction

Narwekar further criticized the BMC's inaction after the tendering process was completed. “The work has been sanctioned for the redevelopment of buildings 1 and 2,” he said. “However, the silence and inaction following the tender process indicate a lack of seriousness from the departments concerned.”

He also questioned the timing and intent of the project’s launch. “It is deeply disheartening that the project is yet to commence. There is a growing perception that such schemes are pushed only before elections to secure votes,” he noted.

This remark is especially significant in the context of Mumbai’s upcoming civic elections, where infrastructure development and worker welfare are expected to be major campaign issues. Delays in projects like Ashray Yojana could potentially erode public trust in the civic body’s intent and efficiency.

 

Housing for Conservancy Workers: A Long-Pending Need

The Ashray Yojana was envisioned as part of a broader effort to provide dignified housing solutions for conservancy workers who often live in cramped and substandard conditions. Despite being frontline workers who handle solid waste, sanitation, and hazardous materials, many continue to live in decaying municipal quarters or unauthorized settlements.

The new project was expected to redevelop existing dilapidated structures into modern flats with basic amenities, marking a crucial step toward improving their quality of life. However, the persistent delays are now casting doubt over whether the project will move forward at all.

Such delays, Narwekar argues, send a damaging message—that those who work in the dirtiest, most dangerous corners of the city are not a priority for the administration. “The message this sends to our conservancy staff is not just disappointing—it is unacceptable,” he stated in his letter.
 

BMC’s Silence Raises Questions

Attempts to reach Kiran Dighavkar, Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Solid Waste Management), for comments on the reasons behind the delay, went unanswered. This lack of communication from senior officials has only added to the frustration of stakeholders involved.

Narwekar has given a final warning to the civic authorities to treat the matter with urgency. “We are left with no option but to explore legal routes if the situation remains unchanged,” he said, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability.

Civic activists have also expressed support for Narwekar’s stance, highlighting that conservancy workers often remain an invisible and underrepresented workforce, despite their crucial role in urban sanitation.
 

A Litmus Test for Civic Governance

The delay in implementing Ashray Yojana has become a litmus test for the BMC’s commitment to worker welfare and efficient governance. With funds sanctioned, tenders approved, and public ceremonies conducted, the failure to begin actual work speaks volumes about systemic inefficiencies.

As legal pressure builds and political voices grow louder, it remains to be seen whether the BMC will take swift action or allow this much-needed initiative to languish in bureaucratic limbo. Either way, the city is watching closely—and so are the very workers who keep it clean every day.