Kurla Referendum Guidelines: How Ward Ballot Measures Compare to Other Mumbai Areas

The Kurla ward committee approved new referendum rules last month that let residents place spending proposals on the ballot once supporters submit signatures equal to 4 percent of registered voters in the ward. These rules cover projects such as road repairs, drainage upgrades and community hall construction that fall under the annual ward budget managed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

State amendments to the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act in 2025 prompted the change. The updates require each of the 24 Mumbai wards to publish clear signature thresholds and voting procedures by the end of 2026, shifting some spending decisions from appointed committees to direct resident votes.

For Kurla households this means a resident group could gather roughly 8,200 signatures to force a vote on reallocating part of the ward's road maintenance funds. In practice, such a measure would appear on the next municipal election ballot if the signatures are verified by the ward election officer.

How Kurla rules differ from neighbouring wards

Chembur and Sion require only 3 percent of voters for the same type of measure, while Andheri East sets the bar at 3.5 percent. Kurla's higher threshold reduces the number of proposals that reach the ballot but also limits the administrative cost of signature verification, which the BMC estimates at 12 lakh rupees per verified petition.

Local budget records show the Kurla ward received 248 crore rupees for capital works in the 2025-26 fiscal year. Under the new rules, any referendum that passes would bind the ward committee to spend within that envelope rather than create new revenue.

Next steps for implementation

The ward committee must publish the first official petition forms by 1 September 2026. Verified measures will appear on ballots during the 2027 municipal elections, with results certified by the Maharashtra State Election Commission within 30 days of polling.