While the western suburbs will get four or five more wards, the eastern suburbs will get three or four more; BMC says it is ready with the restructuring plan and will begin work on it as soon as the state government notifies it
During the 2017 BMC polls, the number of corporators' wards in Mumbai city was reduced to 56 from 63
Unlike the last election, Mumbai city will get an additional ward in the upcoming BMC polls, while four or five more wards would be added in the western suburbs and three or four in the eastern suburbs, said civic officials. The corporation has prepared a restructuring plan of electoral wards with the inclusion of the nine new ones. It has restructured the electoral (corporators’) wards internally, without disturbing the administrative wards.
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The state government had decided to add nine more corporators' wards to the existing 227 on November 10. However, the BMC has not been informed officially, as the governor is yet to sign the ordinance for the additions. “But we are ready with the restructuring plan, and when we get the order from the state, we will be able to submit the new plan,” said Additional Municipal Commissioner Suresh Kakani.
The BMC had already submitted the report to the state election commission based on the existing 227 wards. Now, the corporation has restructured the wards to accommodate nine new ones based on the population. “As per the new plan, Mumbai city will get a new ward. In 2017, after the restructuring, the number of wards in Mumbai city reduced to 56 from 63, while it increased in the eastern and the western suburbs. The restructuring was based on the 2001 population census. Now, the wards have been added based on the 2011 census,” said a civic official.
While the civic elections are expected in February, the preparation is still behind schedule. The exercise may require at least 45-60 days, but BMC officials said they did not wait for a restructuring plan to be submitted from the junior level, and instead completed it at one go after a meeting with all the concerned employees and officials. However, it will still need time for suggestions, objections and other processes.
10 Nov
Day state announced addition of 9 more wards
60
Max days it could take for wards restructuring