The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has sparked a major political row by introducing a fresh proposal to spend ₹2.9 crore on repairing and upgrading the official Mayor's bungalow located in Byculla. This new financial allocation arrives just four months after the civic body spent ₹2.4 crore on renovating the very same premises. Opposition political factions have sharply targeted the administration, questioning the repeated utilization of public taxpayers' funds for luxury upgrades.
Soaring Multi-Crore Costs on Heritage Residence
The official Mayor's residence is a historic heritage structure covering roughly 6,000 square feet, situated inside the Byculla Zoo and Garden grounds. Despite substantial renovation work completed recently, the municipal body has submitted a fresh proposal for further repairs and facility enhancements. If this latest proposal receives formal approval, the total funds allocated to the maintenance and renovation of this single heritage building will reach approximately ₹5.3 crore in under one year, triggering widespread debate over administrative priorities.
Opposition Leaders Question Civic Spending Priorities
Shiv Sena MLA Aaditya Thackeray targeted the civic administration, accusing it of wasting the hard-earned money of Mumbai residents. He asserted that municipal funds are being spent at the discretion of the BJP Mayor, highlighting a pattern where multi-crore renovation expenditures are followed by requests for new official vehicles and subsequent repair cycles just four months later. Uddhav Thackeray also raised serious concerns over the escalating costs associated with luxury cars and bungalow renovations, criticizing the ongoing misuse of public revenue.
Technical Scope of Repairs and Tender Conditions
The proposed ₹2.9 crore project encompasses extensive electrical installations, complete plumbing work, and the structural restoration and beautification of the heritage bungalow. Additionally, the project plan includes fitting special bio-absorbable noise barrier panels to mitigate sound levels across the premises. The municipal corporation has officially floated a tender for the execution of these works, specifying a strict three-month timeline for completion that includes the monsoon season. As part of the bidding rules, interested contractor firms must complete an on-site physical inspection of the property prior to submitting their financial bids.
Preceding Controversy Over Representatives' Luxury Cars
The controversy surrounding the Mayor's residence comes amidst ongoing scrutiny over civic spending on facilities for public representatives. Only recently, the municipal body faced sharp criticism for proposing the acquisition of new official Innova Crysta vehicles to replace the Scorpio N fleet. At that time, the official justification offered for purchasing the new fleet was that representatives experienced persistent lower back pain during long commutes in Scorpio N SUVs, an explanation that drew significant backlash from the public.
