Mumbai, January 14, 2026 – In a bid to ensure a peaceful and secure polling process for the long-awaited Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, the Mumbai Police has ramped up preparations with the deployment of over 28,000 personnel across the city. As voting day approaches on Thursday, authorities are leaving no stone unturned, conducting flag marches in sensitive areas and imposing traffic restrictions to maintain law and order.
The comprehensive security blanket includes 10 Additional Commissioners of Police, 33 Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs), 84 Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs), along with 3,000 officers and 25,000 constables. To bolster the force, platoons from the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF), Quick Response Teams (QRTs), Bomb Detection and Disposal Squads (BDDS), Riot Control Police (RCP), and Home Guards will be stationed at vulnerable polling booths and key locations.
Flag marches, a visible demonstration of police presence, have been underway in neighborhoods with a history of law-and-order disturbances. These route marches, involving 150 to 200 personnel each, feature public address systems blaring announcements to reassure voters and deter potential troublemakers. Senior officers, including DCPs, have led several such exercises. For instance, DCP (Zone IV) Ragasudha spearheaded a march through Wadala and Antop Hill on Tuesday morning.
"This is meant to be a show of strength by the police, for both the general public and anti-social elements," a police officer explained. "It shows the might of the police to those intending to break the law while assuring the common man that the police are around and they do not have to be scared and can vote freely." The marches are timed ahead of the transportation of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) to polling stations, after which police teams will maintain a 100-meter perimeter around the sites.
On the logistical front, traffic curbs will come into effect on Friday, the day of vote counting, to prevent congestion around counting centers. Select roads leading to these facilities will be temporarily closed, with alternative routes clearly marked and communicated to the public. "Since vote-counting centres will see party workers gathering, it could cause traffic congestion," an official noted. "So, we have closed some roads and provided alternative routes."
The BMC polls, delayed for nearly eight years due to delimitation issues and legal hurdles, mark a significant civic exercise in India's financial capital. With over 94 lakh voters and 10,375 polling stations, the elections are crucial for addressing Mumbai's pressing challenges, including infrastructure woes, slum rehabilitation, and urban flooding.
Police coordination with election squads intensifies tonight, focusing on swift responses to complaints of inducements like cash or alcohol distribution, or any violations of the model code of conduct. "If there are any complaints about law-and-order issues or inducements such as cash or alcohol distribution, our officials must rush to the spot and ensure that the election staff can perform their duties without disruption," the officer added.
Authorities have urged citizens to report suspicious activities via helplines and emphasized that robust surveillance, including CCTV monitoring, will be in place. As Mumbai braces for this democratic milestone, the extensive security apparatus underscores the commitment to a fair and fearless electoral process.
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