Mumbai: In a major relief to Ganeshotsav mandals across Mumbai, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday announced a rollback of the controversial Rs 15,000 fine per pothole that the BMC had planned to levy on pandals erected during the festival. Shinde made the announcement through a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, stating that he had spoken to BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani and instructed that there should be no increase in the penalty amount.
Addressing public concerns, Shinde wrote, “The BMC had increased the road reinstatement fee charged to mandals for digging roads for pandals. After discussing the matter with Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, I’ve directed that the fine should not be increased. The earlier rule of Rs 2,000 per pothole will continue.” He further appealed to mandals to avoid digging concrete roads and consider new technologies for erecting pandals without causing damage.
BMC's ₹15,000 Fine Per Pothole Move
As per a circular issued by the civic body on July 21, mandals digging roads for pandal erection were to be fined Rs 15,000 per pothole as part of the road reinstatement charges, a steep jump from the Rs 2,000 penalty that had been in place for years. The new rule, meant to deter damage to Mumbai’s increasingly concretised roads, triggered widespread backlash from organisers and political leaders alike.
Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha's Assurance To Ganeshotsav Mandals
The move follows immediate intervention by Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha, who had on Wednesday promised Ganeshotsav mandals that the fine would be reduced. Lodha had assured that he would soon meet the BMC chief to address their concerns.
On the same day, Lodha held a Janata Darbar at the BMC’s C-Ward office to address civic grievances. The session saw 318 complaints, with the fine on Ganesh mandals emerging as the biggest concern. Lodha reiterated that Ganeshotsav is a culturally significant festival and that citizens should be allowed to celebrate without undue obstacles.
