India, Jan. 3 -- With elections to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) less than two weeks away, citizen forums, civil society groups and resident associations across Mumbai released charters this week, clearly defining their expectations of aspirational corporators in their respective wards.

From pothole management, road quality, solid waste management, transparency and grievance redressal, residents say the long-delayed civic polls have sharpened public scrutiny, with voters signalling that future corporators will be held accountable. The charters reflect a citywide impatience with civic failures that directly affect quality of life.

One such manifesto to be released by Praja Foundation, a non-profit working to enable account...