Not just banks but also water? Mumbai introduces tanker OTP system to stop theft
Following Bengaluru's footsteps, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is planning to implement an OTP-based online booking system for potable water tankers. Under this new initiative
Following Bengaluru's footsteps, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is planning to implement an OTP-based online booking system for potable water tankers. Under this new initiative, the BMC aims to regulate the water supply chain, curb unauthorised water extraction, and prevent fraudulent tanker trips during the city's ongoing water crisis and tanker strikes. The BMC operates 33 potable water filling stations across the city, from where water is supplied to its fleet of tankers as well as over 200 licensed private water tankers authorised to distribute potable water. Read Full Story The new system seeks to address existing gaps by introducing an online approval mechanism for housing societies and other consumers procuring water tankers. After booking a tanker online, users will receive a One-Time Password (OTP). The OTP must be presented at designated filling stations before the tanker is dispatched.
Officials said the system is expected to curb unauthorised and illegal tanker trips. Mumbai is facing a severe water crisis as reservoir levels fall sharply and a strike by the Mumbai Water Tanker Association disrupts supply. One of the main factors behind the situation is the depletion of reserves, with water levels in the seven lakes that supply the city dropping to 13% of their total capacity. Mumbai has now borrowed a page from Bengaluru's playbook to improve water access. The IT hub has also been facing an acute water crisis, marked by a sharp mismatch between demand and supply. The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board on May 9, 2025 launched two measures linked to water access: Sanchari Cauvery, a government-run service to supply BIS-certified drinking water through GPS-enabled tankers, and Sarala Cauvery, a scheme to provide new piped water connections through simplified instalment-based payments.
Under Sanchari Cauvery, residents can book water tankers through a new mobile app or web portal. The system allows users to track the tanker in real time through GPS, make payments online and confirm delivery through a mandatory OTP-based verification process. The service is designed to ensure delivery within 24 hours, including during periods of high demand. It is also backed by a 24/7 helpline for complaints and grievances. According to the details announced, every tanker under the scheme will carry drinking water certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards. The government also introduced Sarala Cauvery to make new piped water connections easier to obtain. Under the scheme, households in homes measuring less than 600 sq ft will have to pay Rs 1,000 upfront, with the remaining amount to be paid over 12 months.
The BriefWire