The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has directed roadside hawkers, dining centers, and restaurants in Mumbai to transition to cleaner fuels like Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) or Piped Natural Gas (PNG) on or before 8th of July, 2025, failing which strict action will be taken.
The move, undertaken with the intent of lowering air pollution, has led to a spike in shares of Mahanagar Gas, 1.5% higher on February 18, even when the general stock market fell.
The municipal corporation has imposed a blanket ban on cooking with wood and coal and has served notices on 84 such violators. The BMC threatened not to renew the license of such restaurant owners and impose other sanctions.
Mumbai has been struggling with its air quality declining, more recently after the recent monsoons, due to pollution from vehicles, massive projects of construction, and giant infrastructure projects.
Possible Ban on Petrol and Diesel Cars
The city administration is also considering a ban on petrol and diesel cars to reduce pollution levels. A committee, led by a retired IAS officer, is currently reviewing the feasibility of this ban and is expected to submit its recommendations by April 2025.
Previous Pollution Control Measures
- In December 2024, BMC banned construction work in two suburbs due to pollution concerns.
- 28 construction sites were issued warnings for failing to follow pollution control measures.
- American tech entrepreneur Bryan Johnson recently criticized Mumbai’s air pollution levels, calling it a serious health concern.
Mumbai’s Green Transit Plans
To promote sustainable transportation, Mumbai is implementing several eco-friendly initiatives:
- Metro Network Expansion to improve public transport.
- Doubling of Mumbai Monorail capacity in the coming years.
- BluSmart, an electric ride-hailing service, is set to launch operations in Mumbai.
- The Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), set to open in 2025, is expected to help ease congestion in the city.
As Mumbai moves toward cleaner energy and sustainable transit, businesses will have to adapt to the new regulations or face operational hurdles.
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Source: Moneycontrol.
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