BMC Issues Rs 23.7 Bn Tender for Deonar Waste Cleanup

22 May 2025 CW Team

The project will focus on the bioremediation of 18.5 million tonnes of legacy waste and the disposal of excavated, processed, and segregated materials. The initiative is expected to reclaim approximately 110 hectares (272 acres) of land at Deonar.

The contract will span three years, including time for mobilisation and monsoon delays, and work will commence upon the issuance of a letter of acceptance or service order.

The timing of the tender is significant, as 124 acres of the 311-acre Deonar site were allocated in October 2024 to the Adani Group-led Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP) for the construction of rental homes for residents not eligible for free housing in Dharavi. This decision has sparked controversy, given the site’s status as an active landfill emitting toxic gases.

Civil society groups have raised concerns about the timing and financial implications of the tender. The Watchdog Foundation has called for an immediate halt to the process, questioning the use of public funds for a project that may ultimately benefit a private redevelopment scheme.

“Bioremediation is welcome, but why is BMC spending Rs 23.68 billion of taxpayers’ money on land already handed to a private developer?” asked advocate Godfrey Pimenta of the Watchdog Foundation. The group has demanded a full review and independent inquiry into the decision.

Kiran Dighavkar, Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Solid Waste Management), defended the initiative, stating that both the Mulund and Deonar sites hold vast quantities of legacy waste—Mulund with 6 million tonnes and Deonar with 20 million tonnes.

“Biomining is a statutory obligation. Regardless of the DRP, we must clean the land as per state government directives,” he said. “At Mulund, we’ve been working for six years and expect to reclaim 60 acres. Now, our focus is on Deonar.”

"Join industry leaders at RAHSTA Expo, India's premier platform for roads, highways and traffic infrastructure. Register now to explore innovations, network with experts and shape the future of mobility."

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has floated a major tender worth Rs 23.68 billion for the remediation of legacy waste at the Deonar dumping ground—infamously dubbed “Mount Garbage” due to waste piling as high as a 12-storey building. The project, one of the largest solid waste management initiatives in recent years, aims to clear decades-old waste from one of Mumbai’s oldest landfill sites.The project will focus on the bioremediation of 18.5 million tonnes of legacy waste and the disposal of excavated, processed, and segregated materials. The initiative is expected to reclaim approximately 110 hectares (272 acres) of land at Deonar.The contract will span three years, including time for mobilisation and monsoon delays, and work will commence upon the issuance of a letter of acceptance or service order.The timing of the tender is significant, as 124 acres of the 311-acre Deonar site were allocated in October 2024 to the Adani Group-led Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP) for the construction of rental homes for residents not eligible for free housing in Dharavi. This decision has sparked controversy, given the site’s status as an active landfill emitting toxic gases.Civil society groups have raised concerns about the timing and financial implications of the tender. The Watchdog Foundation has called for an immediate halt to the process, questioning the use of public funds for a project that may ultimately benefit a private redevelopment scheme.“Bioremediation is welcome, but why is BMC spending Rs 23.68 billion of taxpayers’ money on land already handed to a private developer?” asked advocate Godfrey Pimenta of the Watchdog Foundation. The group has demanded a full review and independent inquiry into the decision.Kiran Dighavkar, Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Solid Waste Management), defended the initiative, stating that both the Mulund and Deonar sites hold vast quantities of legacy waste—Mulund with 6 million tonnes and Deonar with 20 million tonnes.“Biomining is a statutory obligation. Regardless of the DRP, we must clean the land as per state government directives,” he said. “At Mulund, we’ve been working for six years and expect to reclaim 60 acres. Now, our focus is on Deonar.”

Infrastructure Transport

10 Jul 2026

Uttar Pradesh unveils infrastructure-led growth roadmap at RAHSTA

Mumbai, 9 July 2026: Uttar Pradesh’s ambitious infrastructure-led growth strategy took centre stage on Day 2 of the 16th RAHSTA Expo, where senior government officials outlined how expressways, industrial corridors and technology-driven governance are transforming the state into one of India's most attractive investment destinations.Delivering the keynote address, Srihari Pratap Shahi, IAS, Additional Chief Executive Officer, Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA), highlighted the state's long-term vision of integrating world-class expressways with industrial dev..

Real Estate

10 Jul 2026

NCW closes PRIME Offices Fund at Rs 40 billion

Nuvama and Cushman & Wakefield Management (NCW) has announced the final close of its flagship PRIME Offices Fund at approximately Rs 40 billion, exceeding its original target of Rs 30 billion following strong investor demand.The fund was launched to provide Indian investors with access to institutional-grade commercial office assets across key office markets in the country. According to NCW, the increase in the fund size was supported by strong investor participation and the availability of investment opportunities in India's office sector.The fund has already committed around 45 per cent ..

Real Estate

10 Jul 2026

Mayfair Housing adopts Autodesk Forma for digital project planning

Mayfair Housing has entered into a three-year strategic partnership with Autodesk to deploy Autodesk Forma, an AI-enabled cloud platform, as part of its digital transformation programme aimed at improving project planning and execution across its development and redevelopment portfolio.The platform will be integrated into the company's Building Information Modelling (BIM) workflow to support architects, planners and project teams during the early stages of design and development. Autodesk Forma combines real-world data, environmental simulations and collaborative workflows to facilitate data-d..