News Continuous Bureau | Mumbai
Mumbai’s Religious Places Got a Clean Makeover
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has taken a significant stride in its cleanliness efforts with
the successful completion of the “Special Cleanliness Drive: Religious Places”
. Held from 28th
April to 12th May 2025, this 15-day initiative led by the Solid Waste Management (SWM)
Department focused on elevating sanitation standards across religious and worship places in
the city.
The drive was designed to instill systematic, consistent cleanliness practices while fostering
awareness and participation among citizens. The initiative targeted high-footfall religious
locations that hold cultural and emotional value for millions of Mumbaikars — places that often
grapple with littering, neglected waste, and abandoned materials in and around their premises.
The campaign spanned across all administrative wards, with each ward identifying key religious
places in need of focused attention. The effort included sweeping, clearing of abandoned
materials, garbage collection, washing of premises, and safe disposal of waste. Specific
attention was also given to areas with unauthorised parking and waste accumulation under
parked vehicles.
A Mechanised and Community-Driven Effort
The SWM department ensured structured execution through ward-level Assistant Engineers
(AE), Zonal Executive Engineers (EE), and close coordination with local trustees. Modern
equipment such as power sweepers, JCBs, misting machines, dumpers, FireX machines, and
water tankers were deployed to ensure effective mechanised cleaning.
What truly powered this campaign, however, was active community participation. Each day, over
50 volunteers from NGOs, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), schools and colleges, housing societies,
and local citizens came forward per ward. All participants were provided with uniforms,
protective gear, and refreshments — reinforcing the spirit of collective civic responsibility.
Impact and Legacy
The campaign was executed daily between 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM with rigorous monitoring,
supervision, and daily reporting formats to ensure transparency. Nodal officers appointed for
each ward ensured that targets were met and best practices documented.
The successful completion of this special drive has not only improved the hygiene and aesthetic
appeal of Mumbai’s religious sites but has also instilled a renewed sense of civic pride. It stands
as a testament to what can be achieved when citizens and administration work hand-in-hand.
As Mumbai continues its journey toward becoming a cleaner, more dignified metropolis, the
success of this initiative reinforces the Gandhian vision — that cleanliness is a shared, collective
responsibility.
