Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide has ordered a strict crackdown on contractors responsible for maintaining cleanliness at infrastructure project sites across the city, following repeated complaints about poor hygiene and site management. The directive came after a surprise inspection conducted by Bhide on Wednesday morning, during which she assessed multiple locations in the western suburbs.

Mumbai is currently host to numerous infrastructure projects managed by various authorities. However, officials observed that contractors frequently left construction materials unattended for extended periods and neglected basic cleanliness standards at their sites, contributing to litter and debris accumulation in public areas.

During her inspection, Bhide visited several key locations including the road-cleaning work near Dharmashala Chowki and outside the Government Polytechnic at Kherwadi in Bandra West. She also reviewed conditions along major thoroughfares such as the Western Express Highway, the Church Road–Marol stretch, the parking facility adjacent to Guru Govind Singh Marg in Andheri East, the JB Road Metro Station chowki, and Savitribai Phule Udyan in Marol.

Emphasizing the importance of early morning cleanliness drives, Bhide instructed municipal officials to accelerate efforts to clear debris and waste from road dividers, junctions, roadside areas, and open spaces. She mandated that solid waste management chowkis be visited daily by zonal Deputy Commissioners and ward-level Assistant Commissioners to personally oversee sanitation operations and ensure prompt removal of visible garbage.

Recognizing the challenges posed by ongoing infrastructure activities, Bhide called for enhanced coordination among ward officials and cooperation with different government agencies to bolster overall cleanliness across the city. Additionally, she directed the deployment of modern sweeping machines and instituted a weekly schedule for washing all city roads to maintain hygiene standards.

The Municipal Commissioner’s order aims to improve civic maintenance and public health by ensuring contractors adhere strictly to cleanliness requirements, thereby addressing longstanding concerns raised by residents and civic bodies alike.