In a significant move ahead of the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, residents of the upscale Breach Candy neighbourhood in south Mumbai have made their priorities clear. Around 400 families participated in a detailed survey conducted by the Breach Candy Residents Forum (BCRF), a local citizens' group, expressing a strong desire for hyper-local representation.
A Clear Mandate for Local Leadership
The survey, titled ‘BMC Report Card: Choosing the Best Corporator for Breach Candy', was designed to gather honest feedback on the locality's state and the functioning of Bhulabhai Desai Road. The findings revealed a clear preference for electing a corporator who is a resident of the area itself, described by participants as "one of them."
Vistasp Mehta, an architect and BCRF member, explained the sentiment. "This poll has given us a clear mandate for a local resident corporator. Residents believe such a representative would identify problems as soon as they arise, not months later. They would face the same daily challenges and understand the ground reality far better. Promises made during campaign periods are rarely fulfilled," Mehta stated.
Structured Feedback on Civic Issues
The survey was meticulously structured across nine primary civic categories, each with defined sub-categories. Residents rated each aspect on a scale of 0 to 5, with 5 representing the highest performance level. Beyond numerical ratings, the forum also collected qualitative feedback through an open comments section, capturing nuanced concerns and suggestions.
Devika Mistry, another BCRF member, highlighted the community's commitment. "The resident poll reflects our community's dedication to Breach Candy's upkeep and safety. Our appeal is for integrated management — through a local coordinator — that not only benefits our neighbourhood but enhances the efficiency of the entire ward," Mistry said.
The Pivotal Demand: A Coastal Road Exit
Among all issues, one emerged as the most critical for residents: the demand for a Nepean Sea Road exit from the Mumbai Coastal Road's southbound section. This was flagged as the single-most important infrastructure need for the locality.
Nigum Lakhani, a BCRF member living near the Breach Candy entry-exit of the Coastal Road, elaborated on the struggle. "The NSR exit has emerged as the single-most important demand of Breach Candy residents. It will help solve congestion on our road and allow vehicles headed to Nepean Sea Road to exit right there. We have collected all relevant documents and have been knocking on multiple doors, yet the authorities in power and position have refused to help us take it forward," Lakhani expressed with frustration.
The survey also included a separate question on future civic participation, which generated a wealth of ideas from residents, indicating an engaged citizenry ready to collaborate for better governance. The last corporator to represent the locality was Sarita Patil of the BJP.
This grassroots initiative by the Breach Candy Residents Forum underscores a growing trend in urban Indian constituencies where educated, involved communities are seeking greater accountability and localized problem-solving from their elected representatives, setting a potential precedent for civic engagement in other neighbourhoods.
