Ahead of the <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/bmc-election-2026-mumbai-ngo-flags-30-citizen-centric-demands-for-civic-poll-candidates-23610243" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">BMC elections</a> on January 15, the Mumbai North Central District Forum (MNCDF), an NGO representing diverse communities across Mumbai, has made a 30-point list of citizen-centric needs to be placed in front of all candidates contesting the polls.
These demands reflect the collective aspirations of citizens for a transparent, accountable and people-centric civic administration, built on dignity, safety, and sustainability.
When one goes through those demands, one cannot help but think that this edit space has consistently asked for focus and highlighted problems tied to these city-centric demands.
Corporators must be visible and answerable to the people. They cannot simply &lsquo;disappear&rsquo; post <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/mid-day-s-know-your-ward-series-bmc-elections-2026-inside-mumbai-s-m-east-and-west-wards-23610242" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">polls</a>. Ward officers must be present to carry out action when it is needed and demands are justified.
A big one is to create pedestrian-friendly zones and spaces so that our roads become truly for the people. Cavities in roads and sidewalks, making them &lsquo;trip spaces&rsquo;. A city that is getting increasingly tougher for senior citizens to negotiate. Pavements that are so high that getting on and off is dangerous. Bikers riding wrong has now become an all too familiar pattern. Here, it is the traffic authorities that need to crack down. Most importantly, this pedestrian-first policy should be in both &nbsp;letter and spirit.
Illegal hawker protection must end now. Designated hawking zones are spoken about, but we see little to no implementation.
There are demands to address hygiene, infrastructure and shortage of manpower in <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/mumbai-push-to-strengthen-suburban-hospitals-as-island-city-facilities-strain-under-rising-patient-load-23610241" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">municipal hospitals</a>. We have highlighted how surprise checks at these hospitals were a good initiative, but we need more consistency.
Citizens ask for emphasis on monitoring AQI in real time and enforcing stricter norms for construction dust and vehicular emissions.

BMC Election 2026: These demands reflect the collective aspirations of citizens for a transparent, accountable and people-centric civic administration

Mid-Day Opinion: Candidates need to listen carefully to what people say

When loyalty means nothing

These demands reflect the collective aspirations of citizens for a transparent, accountable and people-centric civic administration, built on dignity, safety, and sustainability.

Candidates need to listen carefully to what people say

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