BMC Swimming Pool

Digital Public Services, Reimagined Through Design

Digitally Transforming How Mumbai Books Its Swimming Facilities

The Story

Mumbai is home to some of the finest public swimming facilities in the country—Olympic-standard pools built by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in Dadar, Chembur, Kandivali, and Dahisar. But here’s the catch: most citizens had no idea they even existed.

Why?

Because getting a membership felt like chasing a mirage—long queues, opaque processes, physical forms, and zero clarity. The system wasn’t just outdated—it was discouraging. People wanted access, but the process made them walk away.

That’s when 12Grids took on the challenge:

To build a platform that didn’t just digitize the system, but restored people’s confidence in it.

Our goal was to create a platform so simple that it could be used by a 5-year-old first-time swimmer or a 95-year-old water lover. It had to be trustworthy, transparent, responsive, and ridiculously easy to use.
Because great public infrastructure means nothing if it isn’t accessible—and that's what we set out to change.

Problem Identified

As BMC expanded its world-class swimming infrastructure, the lack of a simple and transparent booking system became the biggest hurdle. The following challenges stood in the way of citizen adoption:

Lack of Transparency in Membership Process

Citizens had no clear way to know how and when to register. Long queues, unclear instructions, and manual form submissions created hesitation and distrust.

No Unified, User-Friendly Platform

There was no single platform that worked seamlessly across devices. The experience wasn’t intuitive—making it difficult for both young swimmers and elderly users to navigate the process confidently.

Outdated and Non-Scalable System

The existing process couldn’t support high demand, new pool additions, or real-time updates. There was no flexibility to scale or introduce features like slot availability or digital payments.

Lack of Transparency in Membership Process

Citizens had no clear way to know how and when to register. Long queues, unclear instructions, and manual form submissions created hesitation and distrust.

No Unified, User-Friendly Platform

Outdated and Non-Scalable System

The existing process couldn’t support high demand, new pool additions, or real-time updates. There was no flexibility to scale or introduce features like slot availability or digital payments.

Our Solution

We knew this wasn’t just about building a booking portal—it was about rebuilding trust in public services through thoughtful design and scalable technology. The BMC swimming pools were world-class, but the experience around them didn’t reflect that.

At 12Grids, we approached this project with a civic-tech mindset:

How do we make government services feel accessible, transparent, and citizen-friendly—without overwhelming the system?

Our mission was to deliver a digital solution that didn’t just function—it inspired confidence, inclusivity, and delight. Whether someone was a first-time user or a returning member, the platform had to feel effortless, informative, and empowering.

From UI to backend, every decision we made was grounded in two principles:
"Keep it simple. Make it work for everyone."

UI for All Ages

From a 5-year-old swimmer to a 95-year-old aquatic enthusiast, we crafted a clean, distraction-free interface with large touch targets, clear instructions, and a gentle visual tone to guide users through each step effortlessly.

Responsive Platform with Live Seat Availability

The website was designed to work beautifully across all devices. We introduced real-time slot visibility so users could see availability before booking—reducing guesswork and building trust.