BMC Budget 2026: Civic body announces QR code-based certification for hawkers

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC on Wednesday unveiled a QR codebased certification system for authorised hawkers in city as part of the BMC Budget 2026 implementations reported PTIThe move is aimed at tightening regulations on street vending across the cityThe announcement comes amid Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawdersquos strong stance against illegal vending with the mayor earlier warning of strict action against unauthorised hawkers and civic officials allegedly colluding with them after assuming officeMunicipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani presented a Rs 8095256 crore budget marking an 877 per cent increase over the 2025ndash26 estimate of Rs 7442741 crore for Indiarsquos richest civic bodyCrackdown on unauthorised street vendingThe BMC stated that the process of issuing QRbased certificates to authorised hawkers is underway The move aims to create a verifiable digital database of legitimate vendors and curb unauthorised hawking through onground verification using scannable codes reported PTIThe QR initiative forms part of a broader technological push which includes the deployment of AIenabled assistance for citizens and civic staff along with advanced video analytics software linked to more than 1150 CCTV cameras for enhanced urban surveillanceThe Budget also made substantial allocations for infrastructure and transport projects A sum of Rs 9650 crore has been earmarked for the Bridges Department covering projects such as the GoregaonndashMulund Link Road GMLR and the northern stretch of the Mumbai Coastal Road from Versova to DahisarRs 6875 crore earmarked for road upgradesThe Roads and Traffic Department has been allocated Rs 6875 crore primarily for the concreting of major roads and improvements at key junctionsIn addition the BMC said digital payment facilities for property tax and water charges through UPI and QR codes will be introduced in the coming year signalling a wider shift towards cashless civic transactions reported PTITawde had asserted that with the BJP in power in the city the civic administration would act decisively against those who allegedly procured bogus birth certificates and against officials found complicit237 bogus birth certificates cancelled says mayorA day earlier Tawde told PTI that 237 fake birth certificates issued by BMC officials had been cancelled though the original documents are yet to be recoveredldquoAs many as 237 bogus birth certificates were issued and have now been cancelled However the originals are still with Bangladeshi nationals residing in Mumbai Officials have informed me that these will be recovered within a monthrdquo she said after chairing a highlevel meeting reported PTIExpressing dissatisfaction with the timeline the mayor said the documents must be seized within 15 daysldquoIf senior officials are helping such antinationals and shielding them we will have to take strict action If they fail to discharge their duty I will move a resolution in the meeting to initiate stringent action against themrdquo she warnedWith PTI inputs