The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation conducted a large-scale anti-encroachment drive in the early hours of Friday in Mahavir Nagar, Kandivali (West), clearing 65 unauthorised structures and illegal hawkers. The action was aimed at reducing congestion and reclaiming public spaces for residents.
The operation was carried out by the civic body’s R South ward under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner (Zone 7) Sandhya Nandedkar and led by Assistant Commissioner (R South Division) Aarti Golekar. Officials said illegal constructions and unauthorised vending had increasingly obstructed traffic flow and pedestrian movement in the locality, prompting a coordinated crackdown by multiple municipal departments.
The drive involved three JCB excavators and seven dumpers, along with other essential machinery. A team of 47 civic staff members participated in the operation, with police personnel deployed to ensure smooth execution and maintain order.
According to civic officials, the primary objective of the campaign is to maintain clean, safe and obstruction-free public areas. The administration has indicated that similar enforcement actions will be undertaken regularly to tackle encroachments across Mumbai.
In a separate development last week, BJP leader Prabhakar Shinde was elected unopposed as the chairman of the Standing Committee of the BMC. The announcement was made by Mayor Ritu Tawde during a special meeting convened for the election process following the BMC Elections 2026.
Since Shinde was the only nominee to submit his papers, he was declared elected without contest. Senior civic officials and committee members were present. The Standing Committee plays a crucial role in approving financial proposals and shaping key administrative policies within the municipal body.
Source: Mid-day
