Mumbai, Jan 6 (PTI) The Mumbai Congress on Tuesday unveiled its manifesto for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, promising among other things, to improve the city’s air quality and distribute universal health cards that will enable citizens to get free medicines.
The manifesto, unveiled by the party’s city unit president Varsha Gaikwad, also promises fair and transparent redevelopment policies, and affordable housing for low-income and middle-income groups.
It focuses on improving civic governance, public services and quality of life for citizens, with an emphasis on inclusivity and transparency.
The party said the manifesto presents a “people-centric roadmap for Mumbai’s civic development and aims to restore efficient, compassionate and responsive municipal governance”.
It promises transparent governance in the BMC, curbing corruption and ensuring accountability in civic works and contracts.
It prioritises better water supply, sanitation, road maintenance, drainage and solid waste management across all parts of Mumbai, including suburbs and slum areas.
Strengthening municipal hospitals, expanding primary health centres and ensuring affordable healthcare services for the poor and middle-class residents form a major focus.
It says two new multi-speciality hospitals will be set up in the metropolis.
The manifesto promises to improve the quality of BMC-run schools, upgrade infrastructure and ensure access to education for children from economically-weaker sections.
It also promises fair and transparent redevelopment policies, protection of the rights of slum dwellers and affordable housing for low-income and middle-income groups.
The Congress pledges to improve public transport services, reduce traffic congestion and enhance pedestrian-friendly infrastructure.
The manifesto highlights measures to protect Mumbai’s environment, including safeguarding open spaces, improving air quality and strengthening climate-resilience against floods.
Special attention is promised for women, senior citizens, youth and marginalised communities through welfare schemes and social support initiatives.
Five percent each of the BMC budget will be allocated for the welfare of members belonging to the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) communities.
Elections to 29 municipal corporations, including the cash-rich BMC, will be held on January 15, and the results will be declared the next day.
The grand old party, which initially asserted that it would contest the polls solo on all 227 wards, later joined hands with Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), allocating it 62 seats.
But, the VBA later informed the Congress that it didn’t have candidates for around 20 seats and “returned” those seats to the ally. PTI MR NP
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