Officials said unauthorised encroachments were found on the footpaths of Ram Ganesh Gadkari Marg, which connects Swami Vivekananda Marg and Gulmohar Marg and is located near the entrance of the Cooper Hospital
Nearly 100 BMC officers and staff, along with police personnel, were deployed during the operation. PIC/BMC
Around 200 unauthorised hawkers and illegal encroachments on footpaths along Ram Ganesh Gadkari Marg (Irla Marg) in Andheri West were removed on Thursday by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) K West ward.
Officials said unauthorised encroachments were found on the footpaths of Ram Ganesh Gadkari Marg, which connects Swami Vivekananda Marg and Gulmohar Marg and is located near the entrance of the Cooper Hospital. Hawkers had set up illegal stalls, obstructing the movement of ambulances carrying patients in emergency situations to the hospital.
The demolition drive was carried out using four encroachment removal vehicles, three JCBs, and other equipment. Nearly 100 BMC officers and staff, along with police personnel, were deployed during the operation.
Joint drive clears illegal obstructions on three congested Andheri West roads
Earlier on Wednesday, a joint drive by the Amboli police, traffic police, and the BMC brought major relief to residents of Andheri West, with three chronically congested roads finally cleared of illegal obstructions.
Sawant Road, Veera Desai Road, and Duttaji Salvi Road — which routinely witnessed severe traffic snarls — were freed of illegal hawkers, abandoned vehicles, and unauthorised parking of dumpers, tankers, and JCB machines. As a result, commute time on these stretches has dropped sharply from nearly 25 minutes earlier to about 10 minutes now.
Residents said repeated complaints to civic and police authorities in the past had failed to yield results. The breakthrough came after the Amboli police initiated a joint meeting with the BMC and traffic police, leading to coordinated enforcement on the ground.
Sanjay Sawant, a resident of Gundecha Symphony Society on Veera Desai Road, said daily travel had become exhausting due to congestion.
“Every day, we struggled to cross our own area. We were stuck for at least 25 minutes just to pass one lane. Tankers and JCB machines were parked everywhere. Despite several complaints, nothing changed earlier,” he said, adding that emergency services were frequently affected.
“School buses and ambulances were often stuck. Now we can actually see the road. Earlier, all we saw were vehicles and traffic jams. More than 60 societies on this stretch were impacted. We are thankful to the BMC, traffic police, and Amboli police, and have even invited them for a felicitation,” Sawant said.
Another resident, Nakul Vaid, said the situation had earlier turned unsafe.
“There was no footpath left for walking as everything was encroached. Dumpers and tankers dominated the area, and residents were threatened whenever issues were raised. Traffic kept increasing, and public urination was common. We only hope this problem does not return,” he said.
Suresh Makhija, a committee member of Gundecha Society, said the clearance had restored basic dignity for residents.
“For years, heavy dumpers, cranes, and JCBs were parked here. Their drivers created a nuisance by bathing and urinating on the roads. For the first time in many years, the issue has been resolved. I am 76 years old and can finally walk safely on a footpath,” he said.
SK Rout, chairman of Palash A and B Wing Cooperative Housing Society, said residents had noticed a visible change.
“There is no unauthorised commercial vehicle parking, no roadside urination, and no antisocial elements gathering. Earlier, it took 25 minutes to cross Veera Desai Road. Now it barely takes 10 minutes,” he said.
A senior police officer from Amboli police station said three FIRs were registered for illegal parking that posed a threat to public safety.
“More than 150 illegal hawkers were removed. Earlier, only one lane was usable due to encroachments. All lanes are now clear. We have towed 37 abandoned vehicles and continue to tow 50 to 60 illegally parked vehicles daily,” the officer said.
Senior Inspector Pramod Kokate of Amboli police station said the enforcement drive would continue.
“We seized abandoned vehicles, JCBs, tankers, and trucks. Three FIRs were registered for dangerous parking that endangered lives. The action will continue in coordination with the BMC and traffic police to ensure congestion does not return,” he said.
Malad
Similar action was also carried out in Malad, where the police and P-North Ward officials jointly acted against 15 unauthorised hawkers. Legal action was also initiated against 53 individuals. Authorities emphasised that the campaign to keep roads safe will continue.
दि. २९/०१/२०२६ रोजी मालाड पोलीस ठाणे आणि BMC पी उत्तर यांच्यातर्फे १५ अनधिकृत हॉकर्सवर संयुक्त निष्कासन कारवाई करण्यात आली, तसेच ५३ जणांवर कायदेशीर कारवाई झाली. रस्ते सुरक्षित ठेवण्यासाठी आमची मोहीम सुरूच राहील.#MaladPolice #MumbaiPolice #BMC #PublicSafety #CleanMumbai pic.twitter.com/RMJuPTkQcY
— मालाड पोलीस ठाणे - Malad PS Mumbai (@Malad_PS) January 30, 2026
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