MUMBAI: The state election commission has issued directions to the BMC for beginning the process for formation and reservation of 227 municipal wards in Mumbai for the upcoming civic elections scheduled to be held in February 2017.The final list of wards is expected to be ready by November 22. In the case of Mumbai, even as the number of electoral wards would continue to remain 227, their numbers in the city area would reduce while in the suburbs they are expected to rise.
In Mumbai city, while number of wards is expected to drop, their geographical areas would increase. In the suburbs however, the wards would be smaller in case of geographical area while numbers of wards would increase.
A four-member committee consisting of the BMC commissioner, divisional commissioner Konkan and the Mumbai collector — city and suburbs — would begin the process of ward formation starting September 9. By October 5, the draft ward-formation list would be published, and from then on till October 20 suggestions/objections would be sought from the citizens.
By November 18, the election commission will take the final decision on the wards following which, on November 22, the civic commissioner would publish the list and the map along with all the changes which have been suggested by the election commission.