Mumbai is observing a public holiday on Thursday as over 1.03 crore voters cast ballots in the BMC elections. Government offices, banks, schools and stock markets are shut, while a dry day is in force citywide. Local trains, Metro services, buses and essential services remain operational to facilitate smooth movement for voters.
Mumbai has shifted gears today as over 1.03 crore voters head to the polls for the high-stakes Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. To facilitate a smooth voting process across the city’s 227 wards, the Maharashtra State Election Commission has declared a public holiday, resulting in widespread closures across the city.
The most important impact is seen in the professional and financial sectors. In accordance with the Negotiable Instruments Act, all government and semi-government offices, including state and central departments within BMC limits, are shut.
The National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) have suspended trading for the day. While the morning sessions are closed, some commodity segments may see limited activity in evening windows.
Despite the holiday, Mumbai’s lifelines continue to run to ensure citizens can reach their polling booths. Public Transport: Local trains (Central, Western, and Harbour lines), Metro Lines across the city and BEST buses are operating on their regular schedules. Special arrangements have been made to increase frequency near major polling clusters. Essential Services: Hospitals, pharmacies and emergency services (Fire and Police) are fully functional. Private Businesses: While many private corporate offices have granted a holiday or work from home status to encourage voting, essential retail outlets, including grocery stores and milk booths, remain open. Malls and Cinemas: Many shopping malls and multiplexes have delayed their opening times until the afternoon to ensure staff and patrons have time to cast their ballots.
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