How Mumbai Residents Can Report Illegal Hawkers Through BMC WhatsApp Chatbot
Mumbai residents can now report illegal hawking through the BMC's WhatsApp chatbot. Citizens need to send a message to 8999-22-8999, select the illegal hawking complaint option, and upload a live photograph along with the location. The feature has been introduced following directions from the Bombay High Court to simplify reporting.
Citizens can now report illegal hawking across Mumbai through the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) WhatsApp chatbot, with the civic body introducing a dedicated complaint option in compliance with directions issued by the Bombay High Court.
The new feature has been added to the BMC's WhatsApp chatbot on 8999-22-8999, allowing residents to submit complaints by sharing the location and a live photograph of unauthorised hawking. The initiative aims to simplify the complaint process and enable quicker reporting of encroachments across the city. Mumbai Latest News Today on June 29th, 2026: Heavy Rains, Train Upgrades & Crime Alerts.
How to File an Illegal Hawking Complaint on BMC's WhatsApp Chatbot
Citizens can now report illegal hawking across Mumbai through the BMC’s WhatsApp chatbot, with the civic body introducing a dedicated complaint option in compliance with directions issued by the Bombay High Court.
The new feature has been added to the BMC’s WhatsApp chatbot on…
— Richa Pinto (@richapintoi) June 29, 2026
How to Report Illegal Hawking
Residents can file a complaint by following these steps:
- Save the BMC WhatsApp chatbot number 8999-22-8999 on your phone.
- Open WhatsApp and send a message to the chatbot.
- Select the option for illegal hawking complaints.
- Upload a live photograph of the alleged unauthorised hawking.
- Share the exact location of the incident through WhatsApp.
- Submit the complaint for further action by the civic authorities.
The BMC said the new option has been introduced specifically for reporting unauthorised hawking across Mumbai. BMC Worker Falls Into Manhole in Front of Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde, Video Surfaces.
Introduced Following High Court Directions
The civic body said the complaint feature has been launched in compliance with directions issued by the Bombay High Court.
By integrating the service into its existing WhatsApp chatbot, the BMC aims to make it easier for citizens to report encroachments without visiting civic offices or filing complaints through multiple channels.
The WhatsApp-based system allows users to submit supporting evidence, including photographs and location details, which can help authorities verify complaints and take appropriate action. The BMC has not announced any additional changes to the complaint process beyond the introduction of the new chatbot feature.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 29, 2026 11:16 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
