The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is likely to receive the status of an Urban Disaster Management Authority (UDMA) along with nine other municipal corporations in Maharashtra. The proposal has already received in-principle approval and is currently awaiting final clearance from the state government. Once approved, civic bodies will gain direct authority to manage disaster response operations within their city boundaries, reducing dependence on district administrations. Maharashtra is expected to become the first state in India to establish Urban Disaster Management Authorities across several major cities. The initiative aims to strengthen local emergency preparedness and improve response efficiency during natural disasters, accidents, and climate-related emergencies.
Under the proposed system, municipal commissioners will act as heads of their respective Urban Disaster Management Authorities, allowing quicker and more localised decisions during emergencies. The new structure is expected to minimise delays caused by waiting for approvals from district collectors. Authorities believe the arrangement will help cities prepare better for recurring threats such as flooding, heavy rainfall, heatwaves, and infrastructure-related crises. At present, disaster management operations are controlled by District Disaster Management Authorities headed by district collectors. Since many districts include multiple municipal corporations, coordination during emergencies often becomes complicated and slows immediate action on the ground.
Officials said the need for this change emerged because urban emergencies currently require coordination through district authorities, even when the incidents are confined to city limits. For instance, Thane district includes several civic bodies such as Thane Municipal Corporation, Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation, and Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation. Managing emergencies across different civic jurisdictions through a single district authority often affects response speed. To address these challenges, the provision for Urban Disaster Management Authorities was introduced through the 2025 amendment to the Disaster Management Act, 2005. Section 41A of the amended law allows states to establish UDMAs in capital cities and municipal corporation areas.
At present, only Chennai, Bengaluru, and Visakhapatnam have been granted Urban Disaster Management Authority status in India. If the Maharashtra proposal is approved, Mumbai and several other cities in the state will join that list. In Mumbai, BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide is expected to lead the authority, while district collectors from the city will serve as members. Other agencies likely to become part of the UDMA framework include the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA), and Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA). Authorities believe the move will strengthen coordination and improve overall disaster preparedness in urban regions.