Civic body eyes Delhi-style anti-dumping digi platform

Mumbai: Drawing inspiration from Malba Portal -- a digital system that enables residents and builders to schedule debris pickups and curb illegal dumping -- BMC has invited an expression of interest (EOI) to onboard technology providers for a similar platform in Mumbai. The selected firm will be tasked with designing, developing and managing a unified digital platform for the scientific handling of waste in line with the Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2025. The last date for submission of the EOI is April 29.The proposed platform will function as a central digital ecosystem, linking citizens, resident welfare associations (RWAs), small contractors, bulk generators, developers and govt agencies such as MMRDA, SRA, Metro and PWD, along with transporters, recycling facilities and BMC ward, zonal and solid waste management offices.It will enable real-time submission and approval of Waste Management Plans (WMPs), facilitate the "debris-on-call" service, and provide digital consents and receipts. Additional features will include geo-tagging, vehicle tracking integration, enforcement reporting, and compliance monitoring under the 2025 rules. According to officials, the selected technology partner will handle the end-to-end lifecycle of the platform -- from design, development, and customisation to deployment, integration, testing, commissioning and ongoing operations and maintenance. The cloud-based system will include multiple modules, dashboards, and integrations, serving as a single window for managing C&D waste from WMP submission through to final disposal certification.Officials noted that while the city has authorised recycling facilities at Shilphata and Dahisar, and designated unloading sites such as Deonar, the current system remains fragmented. Multiple unintegrated digital platforms and manual processes, the absence of real-time vehicle tracking, and weak coordination between wards, zones, transporters, and recycling facilities have led to gaps in accountability. These shortcomings have contributed to instances of illegal dumping in open lands, mangroves, salt pans and water bodies. —Richa Pinto