Mumbai: Vile Parle footpath test walk reveals 12 obstructions in just 180 metres

In yet another case of blatant disregard for public sidewalks a 180metre test walk by MidDay in Vile Parle ran into up to 12 obstructions on Monday and Tuesday The obstructions included permanent structures which have been in place without any civic action for over five years according to longtime residents of the area Speaking with this reporter at the spot freshmen from nearby colleges exclaimed that they werenrsquot even aware that this was supposed to be a footpathOn days when there is no car stretch starts with a flower shop named Roses amp Lilyrsquos occupying a large portion of the walkwayThe 180metre distance on Indravadhan Ojha Marg starts from the Gulmohar Road junction and ends at the NS Road No 3 junction The stretch is also parallel to RN Cooper Municipal Hospital While the footpath adjacent to Cooperrsquos boundary wall offers significantly better accessibility this one remains choked by the obstructionsThen comes the BEST bus stop 05026 which leaves little space on the footpathFootpath revivalAccording to civic officials who reviewed the list of obstructionshellipgtgt Plant pots and the fruit shops will be removedgtgt BEST bus stop is authorisedgtgt The flower shop lsquoRoses amp Lilyrsquosrsquo was served a notice by the BMC but the shop owner has challenged it in court Civic officials are awaiting the courtrsquos final order before concluding the shoprsquos legal statusgtgt The unnamed general store and the milk scheme shop AS 49 might be licensed shops applicable action will be taken after assessing their permits and legal statusHeading from Gulmohar Road towards Juhu NS Rd No 3 the first obstruction was a parked carGround realityWhen this reporter visited the spot on Thursday the plant pots had been cleared However the Pinnacle Imaging Centre gates were still open outwards there were cars seen parked on the footpath and the fruit vendors were still aroundCars are parked near the general storeOfficial SpeakK WEST Ward officiallsquoWe will launch an inspection drive on Wednesday and clear encroachments Action against permanent structures can be taken only if they are found to be operating without licences and permits Licensed vendors are authorised to set up shop on footpathsrsquoA makeshift fruit shop occupies space followed by another fruit shopSalim Tamboli police inspector TrafficDN Nagar lsquoParking on the footpath is a serious violation of traffic rules My staff will check the location and take appropriate actionrsquoPlant pots then occupy the entire footpath leading to the outward opening gates on Pinnacle Imaging Centre followed by more plant potsPedestrian SpeakVedant Solanki 32 Gulmohar Road residentlsquoThis stretch is part of my walks with my dog Around 56 years ago the footpath was in similar condition I can never take the footpath on this stretch and always have to switch to the road Earlier the shops used to be smaller many set up during COVID I donrsquot remember any civic action against these setupsrsquoShop with a lsquoGreater Mumbai Milk Scheme Bhatia Enterprises AS 49rsquo boardAaradhya19 studentlsquoI study in a nearby college and have been passing through this stretch for around a year now The primary reason I donrsquot take the footpath is frequent obstructions due to parked cars Also I donrsquot mind walking on the road because the roads here are not that busy There is actually less congestion on the roads than on these footpathsrsquoDaksh Sethi 20 BCom studentlsquoI have been living here for three years and I am a frequent experienced walker This stretch always been in this unusable state Generally I prefer walking on footpaths as itrsquos safer but here I have to take the road for this portion as itrsquos unusable with obstructions every 20 metres Society ramps and drain covers are a different large issue They are a tripping hazard A footpath should offer a safe and smooth walk thatrsquos so basic Authorities had cleared many footpaths earlier in the year including the Anand vada pav spot They should focus on this stretch as wellrsquoDhruvi Unadkat 18 student Bachelor of Accounting and FinancelsquoI am new to the city and have been passing this stretch for three days now I wasnrsquot aware that this was a footpath Seeing these plant pots and society ramps I was under the impression that these must be their private spaces I walk on the road because I feel I am safer there as compared to these footpathsrsquoVivaan Grover17lsquoIf itrsquos a pedestrian walkway it should remain that way to serve its function I would request the BMC to act on this I visit this area occasionally but I still havenrsquot observed this level of obstruction in other areas I frequentrsquo