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Potholes ruining your commute? Illegal road digging? Broken street lights? Here's exactly how to file a BMC complaint in Mumbai.
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From the dashboard, click Lodge Complaint. You'll be asked to select complaint type and your ward number.
Choose from: Roads, Street Lights, Drainage, Solid Waste, Water Supply, Building, Encroachments, etc. For potholes, select Roads → Pothole.
Pin the exact location on the map. Add 1–3 photos. Be specific in the description.
You'll receive a complaint ID via SMS and email. Save this to track or escalate.
Check status after 7 days. If unresolved after 21 days, escalate to Ward Officer or raise on Mumbai Voice.
| Complaint Type | BMC Category | Expected Resolution | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pothole on road | Roads Department | 7–21 days | High Priority |
| Illegal road digging / restoration pending | Roads + Engineering | 14 days | Urgent |
| Illegal speed bumper / hump | Roads Department | 30 days | Moderate |
| Broken street light | Street Lighting Dept | 3–7 days | High Priority |
| Waterlogging / drain blocked | Storm Water Drains | 24–72 hrs (monsoon emergency) | Urgent |
| Garbage not collected | Solid Waste Management | 24–48 hours | Routine |
| Illegal construction / encroachment | Building Proposals | 30 days | Moderate |
| Water supply issue / no water | Hydraulic Engineering | 24–48 hours | Urgent |
| Footpath damage / missing tiles | Roads Department | 21–30 days | Routine |
| Mosquito / pest complaint | Health Department | 48–72 hours | Moderate |
Under the BMC Act, unresolved complaints must be responded to within 21 working days. If they don't respond, you have legal escalation options.
Mumbai has over 2,000 km of roads maintained by the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation). Every year, monsoon rains, utility digging and heavy traffic create thousands of potholes across the city's 24 wards. Knowing how to file a pothole complaint effectively can mean the difference between a road getting fixed in a week — or staying broken for months.
The BMC 24×7 helpline is 1916. This is a free call available from any mobile or landline. You can also use the my.bmc.gov.in portal or the My BMC app. All three methods generate a complaint reference number that you can use to track progress.
As per BMC's own service level agreement, pothole complaints must be addressed within 7 working days for major roads and 21 working days for internal roads. In practice, during non-monsoon months, resolution can take 2–4 weeks. Monsoon season (June–September) may cause delays due to volume.
Yes. Utility companies (water, electricity, telecom) are required to obtain No Objection Certificates (NOCs) before digging and must restore roads within 15 days of completion. If a road is dug without notice or not restored, file under Roads → Restoration Pending on the BMC portal.