Amid a deepening water crisis and ongoing disruptions caused by a tanker strike, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is planning to introduce an OTP-based online booking system for potable water tankers, drawing inspiration from a similar model implemented in Bengaluru.

The proposed mechanism aims to bring greater transparency to Mumbai’s water supply chain, prevent unauthorised water extraction and curb fraudulent tanker trips at a time when the city’s reservoir levels have fallen sharply.

Officials said the move is intended to strengthen monitoring of water distribution and ensure that potable water reaches authorised consumers during a period of severe stress on supplies.

BMC Plans Digital Verification For Tanker Deliveries

The BMC currently operates 33 potable water filling stations across Mumbai, supplying water to its own fleet as well as more than 200 licensed private tankers authorised to distribute drinking water.

Under the proposed system, housing societies and other consumers seeking tanker supplies will have to make bookings online. Once a booking is confirmed, users will receive a One-Time Password (OTP), which must be presented at designated filling stations before the tanker can be dispatched.

Municipal officials believe the verification process will help eliminate fake trips and restrict illegal or unauthorised extraction of water from civic facilities.

The initiative comes as Mumbai grapples with a severe shortage of water. Storage levels in the seven lakes that supply the city have dropped to around 13 per cent of total capacity, adding pressure to already strained resources.

Compounding the crisis is an ongoing strike by the Mumbai Water Tanker Association, which has affected the supply of water to several parts of the city.

Bengaluru Model Offers Blueprint

Mumbai’s proposed system closely mirrors the Sanchari Cauvery initiative launched by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) in May 2025.

Under the Bengaluru scheme, residents can book water tankers through a dedicated app or web portal. The system enables users to track tankers through GPS, make digital payments and verify deliveries through an OTP-based authentication process.

The service promises delivery within 24 hours and is supported by a round-the-clock helpline for complaints and grievance redressal.

BWSSB had also announced that all tankers operating under the programme would carry drinking water certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), ensuring quality and safety.

Technology Increasingly Shapes Urban Water Management

Alongside Sanchari Cauvery, Bengaluru had launched the Sarala Cauvery scheme to simplify the process of obtaining new piped water connections.

The initiative introduced instalment-based payment options aimed at making water connections more affordable for economically weaker sections, middle-income households and apartment residents.

For homes measuring less than 600 square feet, applicants are required to pay Rs 1,000 upfront, with the remaining amount spread over 12 months. Larger houses and apartment units are required to pay 20 per cent of the charges initially, with the balance payable in monthly instalments.

As Mumbai battles dwindling water reserves and disruptions to tanker services, the civic body’s decision to adopt technology-driven solutions reflects a growing trend among Indian cities to improve water governance and enhance transparency in urban utility services.

If implemented, the OTP-based system could become a key tool in managing Mumbai’s water distribution network during periods of scarcity while reducing opportunities for misuse and unauthorised supply.

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