02 September,2026 08:27 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
The BMC said encroachments have so far been cleared from six footpaths around Andheri West station, Vile Parle West station, Jogeshwari station, Ram Ganesh Gadkari Marg, Veera Desai Road, and Swami Vivekanand Road. PIC/BMC
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has removed 38 unauthorised stalls and cleared encroachments from footpaths at key locations in the Western suburbs as part of its âPedestrian First' campaign.
The action was carried out around the Andheri West, Vile Parle West, and Jogeshwari West railway stations, as well as along Veera Desai Road and Swami Vivekanand Road.
The civic body, in a press release on Wednesday, said the drive is aimed at clearing footpaths for pedestrians and reducing congestion in areas with heavy footfall. The BMC has been carrying out the drive in its K-West Ward since last week.
In the first phase of the citywide campaign, the BMC plans to clear encroachments from 200 footpaths. In the Vile Parle area alone, the civic body plans to clear encroachments from 27 roads.
The BMC said encroachments have so far been cleared from six footpaths around Andheri West station, Vile Parle West station, Jogeshwari station, Ram Ganesh Gadkari Marg, Veera Desai Road, and Swami Vivekanand Road.
The civic body has particularly focused on footpaths along Swami Vivekanand Road, where pedestrian movement is high. It said the cleared stretches are expected to make it easier for pedestrians to move through the area and help reduce traffic and pedestrian congestion during peak hours.
One JCB, one dumper, more than seven civic officers and staff, 15 workers and more than five police personnel were deployed during the action.
The drive was carried out under the guidance of Additional Municipal Commissioner (Zone 4) Dr Bhagyashree Kapse and Assistant Municipal Commissioner (K-West ward) Chakrapani Alle.
The BMC is conducting the campaign across Mumbai under the guidance of Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide and in accordance with Bombay High Court directions to remove unauthorised hawkers and encroachments from footpaths.
The civic administration has also appealed to businesses and residents to cooperate with the drive.
The âPedestrian First' campaign has also been extended to the Sandhurst Road area.
The BMC took action against unauthorised shops and stalls occupying footpaths at Wadi Bunder. The action was carried out under the guidance of Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Zone 1) Chanda Jadhav and Assistant Commissioner Jitendra Ghorade.
