The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) carried out a special enforcement drive on Monday along Swami Vivekanand Road, clearing unauthorised hawkers and other obstructions between Milan Subway and V.M. Marg Junction in the K/West ward.
The action was conducted under the guidance of Deputy Commissioner (Division 4) Dr Bhagyashree Kapse and Assistant Commissioner Chakrapani Alle, with personnel from several civic departments participating in the operation.
During the drive, civic teams removed hawkers occupying footpaths, unauthorised ramps, construction material, accumulated waste and other structures that were obstructing pedestrian movement. A JCB was also deployed to dismantle encroachments and clear blocked sections of the footpath.
The BMC said the operation was aimed at creating safer and more accessible spaces for pedestrians and ensuring uninterrupted movement along the busy road. The action forms part of the civic body’s broader ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign, which seeks to improve footpath accessibility and make roads more pedestrian-friendly across Mumbai.
The drive comes as the BMC steps up enforcement in several parts of the city, particularly around railway stations and other high-footfall locations.
In the eastern suburbs, the civic administration has identified 13 roads in Mulund for footpath improvement and encroachment removal. Plans are also underway to relocate 94 hawking stalls outside Bhandup railway station and 77 stalls near Kanjurmarg railway station.
Overall, around 20.50 km of footpaths across 14 roads in S Ward are proposed to be upgraded under the campaign.
Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide recently directed officials to prepare detailed plans for improving footpaths and managing traffic around railway stations during peak hours. Ground inspections were conducted across T, S and N wards, covering areas including Mulund, Bhandup, Kanjurmarg and Ghatkopar.
Under the pedestrian initiative, civic authorities are focusing on removing encroachments and ensuring that footpaths remain free from barriers, construction debris and unauthorised structures.
The BMC’s latest action along the Milan Subway-V.M. Marg stretch is part of this wider effort to reclaim public walking spaces and improve pedestrian safety and accessibility across Mumbai.
Source: The Free Press Journal
