With local body elections in Maharashtra due early next year, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s ‘Deep Clean Mumbai’ drive has found enthusiastic takers in Malad’s P North ward, where beautification and repair projects worth over Rs 2 crore have been approved. Over the weekend, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) P North ward floated at least 15 tenders for cosmetic repair and beautification works under the Deep Clean initiative. These include road and footpath repairs, kerbside and median painting, and other minor civic facelifts.

Dhaval Shah, a citizens activist and resident of Andheri, said, “All these works should be carried out within the defect liability period, like roads, so that taxpayers’ funds don’t go down the drain. Also footpath should have a no-breakage policy for five years so that repeated wastage of funds isn't done. Washing of roads isn't needed; it’s a wasteful exercise and a loss of potable drinking water. We must ask if this is wasteful expenditure, if it is politically motivated, and if works were pre-planned and if they are really required?”