Congress-led alliance’s manifesto for BMC polls prioritises healthcare, water & education

BMC Elections: Mumbai Vikas Aghadi's manifesto was officially released at a press conference held by the Indian National Congress, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, Rashtriya Samaj Paksha and Republican Party of India (Gavai), in Mumbai on Tuesday. (Express photo by Ganesh Shirsekar)

The Congress-led Mumbai Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance on Wednesday released its manifesto for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation polls focusing on civic issues such as healthcare, water security, education and housing.

The manifesto, “Mission Mumbai 2026”, promises a radical transformation of the city’s infrastructure and public services, under the slogan “Unity, Mobility, Fraternity, and Inclusive Development.”

The MVA, comprising Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) and Rashtriya Samaj Paksh (RSP), has outlined a multi-pronged strategy to address the city’s most pressing issues from healthcare to water security. Taking a stance against the privatisation of BMC hospitals, the key promises include universal health cards to provide free essential medicines to all citizens, converting Seven Hills Hospital into a premier critical care center and doubling the capacity of ICU-NICU units and introduction of real-time online bed tracking and adopting international medical education standards across all BMC facilities.

The manifesto guarantees 20 per cent free water supply for all Mumbaikars and aims to increase daily supply to 5,000 MLD.

To combat shortages, the coalition plans to cancel the annual eight per cent water tax increase, prioritise the Gargai dam project and implement desalination plants to convert seawater into fresh water. It has promised to launch “Green Mumbai 2030” with real-time air quality monitoring and strict dust control at construction sites.

The manifesto promises reopening closed schools and introducing AI-based smart classrooms. Additionally, the coalition has promised to provide 32 free educational items and launch a free bus service for BMC students and reserve five percent of the BMC budget for both SC (Nav-Bauddha) and ST categories.

The coalition has vowed to make Mumbai pothole-free through extensive road concretisation and strict action against negligent contractors. It has proposed to increase the BEST bus fleet to 6,000 vehicles and oppose any form of privatisation.

The manifesto promises to bring suburban power supply back under the BEST’s control and use profits to cross-subsidise bus fares.

Further, the alliance has promised to conduct audits of all existing parking lots and create new safe parking spaces across the city.

The coalition aims to protect the housing rights of local Marathi families by building planned housing projects on BMC-owned land. For women, the manifesto promises “Hirkani Units” in every ward, more Anganwadis, and day-care centers for working mothers.