BMC seeks Rs 1.5 crore fleet upgrade after leaders say Scorpios gave them back pain

BMC leaders have sought Toyota Innova Crysta cars, saying the Scorpio-N vehicles allotted to them in January 2026 are uncomfortable. The Rs 1.5-crore proposal has drawn criticism from the Opposition and now awaits approval from Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide.

In Short

• Proposal worth Rs 1.5 crore covers top office-bearers and committee chairpersons
• Kishori Pednekar opposed replacing nearly new vehicles, calling it needless expenditure
• Mayor Ritu Tawde backed the request, citing long suburban travel

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) leadership, including House Leader Ganesh Khankar, has requested new cars, claiming that the Mahindra Scorpio-N vehicles provided to them in January 2026 were uncomfortable and caused back pain during travel.

The new demand is for upgraded Toyota Innova Crysta cars for the House Leader, Deputy Mayor and specific committee chairpersons, at a cost of Rs 1.5 crore. While a Toyota Innova Crysta costs anywhere between Rs 25 lakh and Rs 35 lakh, a Mahindra Scorpio-N can cost up to Rs 30 lakh.

BMC Opposition Leader Kishori Pednekar has criticised the fresh push for luxury vehicles as an unnecessary burden on the municipal treasury, especially so soon after the initial allocation.

“I have not demanded a change in my vehicle. I was given a Scorpio vehicle since I was appointed Leader of the Opposition earlier this year. These are new cars and there is no need to change them,” she said.

The Rs 1.5-crore proposal covers the Deputy Mayor, Leader of the House, Leader of the Opposition, and chairpersons of the Standing, Improvements and Education Committees. An Innova Hycross Hybrid vehicle, costing approximately Rs 30 to Rs 35 lakh, has been provided for the use of Mayor Ritu Tawde.

Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde has supported the demand, saying that some committee chairpersons come from far-off suburbs such as Dahisar, Kandivali and Borivali.

“There will be no need to call for a separate tender for the vehicles. Instead, the chairpersons have only asked for another kind of vehicle instead of what has been provided to them,” she said.

The proposal for the new vehicles will soon be submitted to Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide for approval. Scorpio vehicles were allocated to the Deputy Mayor, House Leader, Leader of the Opposition and various committee chairpersons.

However, House Leader Ganesh Khankar has complained that the Scorpio-N vehicle is uncomfortable for travel.

A BMC official said the existing Scorpio cars will be given to BMC ward officers.

“BMC had purchased Scorpio vehicles for a five-year period. Some of the cars were given to committee heads, while the rest were given to ward officers. However, some ward officers could not get the new cars and had to go back to using the old ones. Hence, the plan is to give the Scorpios that will be replaced by Innova Crysta cars to ward-level officials who were using the old cars,” the official said.

Currently, only the BMC chief uses an electric vehicle. Ganesh Khankar confirmed that such a demand had been made, saying, “We had made a demand to the BMC in the group leaders’ meeting for a change in the cars.”

- Ends