Smoking could be banned in the Bourke Street Mall following a report to Melbourne City Council showing overwhelming backing for a smoke-free zone from shoppers and traders.

The new zone would cover the section of Bourke Street between Elizabeth Street and Russell Place and include footpaths, tramways and roads.

A report to the council's Future Melbourne Committee, released on Thursday, showed 83 per cent of more than 3000 people surveyed supported the ban. This included more than 1000 people interviewed on Bourke Street.

Nearly 170 Bourke Street businesses surveyed also returned an 83 per cent rate of support.