BMC announces Rs 33,000 Diwali ex gratia for officers and staff, to be paid with November salary

Ahead of Diwali 2026, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 33,000 for its officers and employees.

Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde announced the decision on Wednesday. She has directed the civic administration to pay the amount along with employees' regular salary for November.

A meeting was held in the Mayor's chamber on Wednesday to discuss how much ex gratia should be paid to civic employees for Diwali. Deputy Mayor Sanjay Ghadi, Leader of the Opposition Kishori Pednekar and House Leader Ganesh Khankar were present. Group leaders of various political parties, committee chairpersons, senior civic officials and representatives of employee unions also attended.

Tawde said the decision was taken keeping in mind the drought-like situation in Maharashtra because of deficient rain this year. She added that the state government has declared drought in 300 talukas under the prescribed norms and has begun various measures to deal with the situation.

Considering this situation, the political group leaders, civic office-bearers, the municipal administration and the coordination committee representing workers' and employees' unions unanimously approved an ex gratia of Rs 33,000 for the corporation's officers and employees. The Mayor said that getting the amount with the regular November salary would let civic employees celebrate Diwali.

Meanwhile, the BMC has planned a special cleanliness drive before Diwali to reduce road dust and keep air pollution in check in Mumbai. The drive will run from October 28 to November 7, and each ward has been given Rs 15 lakh for it.

The drive will focus on major arterial roads and stretches identified as prone to heavy dust. Before the festival, work there will include thorough cleaning, sweeping with mechanical brooms, removal of dust and water sprinkling. As a precaution to keep Mumbai's Air Quality Index (AQI) at an acceptable level in winter, the civic body has instructed all wards to carry out the drive.

The roads selected include the BKC Connector, the Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR), the Eastern Express Highway, the Western Express Highway, the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR), the Ghatkopar-Mankhurd Road, S.V. Road, Link Road, Carter Road and the Sion-Mankhurd Road.