BMC redesigns uniform for mask marshals; promises action in case of harassment

Mayor Kishori Pednekar with an official holding up the new uniform of the marshals. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

Inundated by complaints of extortion and high-handedness against clean-up marshals who have been entrusted with the task of collecting fines from the maskless, the BMC has come up with a new uniform for the mask mandate enforcers. Mayor Kishori Pednekar said each of the uniforms will have a serial number unique to the marshal apart from ward details. Citizens can use this information to file complaints, she said, promising prompt action.

In December 2021, mid-day had highlighted the sheer misuse of power by clean-up marshals in the name of enforcing mask discipline among the citizens. This correspondent took up the job of a marshal to witness the illegalities first-hand at the Kalina Santacruz junction on the Western Express Highway. The marshals extorted money by threatening police action even when people were not at fault, while some of them misbehaved with the public.

BMC's clean-up marshals deployed at Sindhuwadi Chowk, Ghatkopar, on Wednesday. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

Rattled by mid-day's expose, the BMC had promised to overhaul the practice. As cases exploded in Mumbai, authorities also made traffic police responsible for penalising the maskless.

Mayor Pednekar said, "We have 24 wards in Mumbai and we don't want any citizen to be harassed by these marshals. We received many complaints on social media that marshals are extorting and harassing citizens. The ward name will be printed on the uniform with the marshal's serial number. If there are 10 marshals in a particular ward, then every marshal will be given a specific number from 1 to 10."

Clean-up marshals on duty at Sindhuwadi Chowk, Ghatkopar, on Wednesday. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

She explained, "People only have to note down the ward and serial numbers printed on the uniform of the marshal if they abuse or harass or try to extort money from citizens. We will take the strictest action against the errant marshal. We will also instruct all marshals to behave politely with citizens and not harass them."

Urging the public to behave responsibly, Pednekar said in a video message, "We don't want Mumbaikars to face any trouble due to these marshals. They are deployed on the street as many people do not wear masks and Covid-19 cases have spiked in the city. People should wear masks in public places and follow all Covid-19 rules."

At a few places, mid-day spotted marshals without a uniform and harassing citizens. Two such marshals were found by this correspondent at Shankar Lane, Kandivli West. Traffic Joint Commissioner Rajyawardhan Sinha told mid-day, "We were also instructed by the BMC to collect fines from the people who are roaming without masks on vehicles. We were given a specific book by the BMC to collect fines from the citizens. We are requesting people to wear masks in public places and follow all Covid-19 guidelines."

Rs 200
Fine for not wearing a mask in public places