(From Our Correspondent)
MUMBAI: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has launched a sweeping citywide campaign to rid Mumbai’s roads, footpaths, and public spaces of illegal encroachments and unauthorized constructions and the drive is gaining significant momentum following the election of a new Mayor.
Over the past several days, demolition squads have fanned out across multiple wards, with Tuesday’s operations targeting key areas including Abdul Rehman Street and Pydhonie in South Mumbai, and Jogeshwari and Kandivali in the western suburbs. Illegal constructions, unauthorized stalls, and hawkers occupying public spaces were all brought under the civic body’s scanner.
South Mumbai’s Busiest Corridors Cleared
The stretch linking Mohammad Ali Road, Bhindi Bazaar, Masjid Bandar, and Byculla including the critical arterial Nagdevi and Ibrahim Merchant Road near Mandvi is considered one of South Mumbai’s most congested and commercially active zones. To address the rampant encroachments that had developed in these areas, the BMC’s ‘B’ and ‘C’ wards jointly conducted a coordinated crackdown along Mohammad Ali Road and Abdul Rehman Street.
On Tuesday, the combined team demolished more than 15 illegally extended shops and 10 unauthorized stalls in the stretch running from Abdul Rehman Street and Yusuf Meherally Road to Mohammad Ali Road. The operation was carried out under tight police bandobast from Pydhonie Police, confirmed ‘B’ Ward Assistant Commissioner Yogesh Desai.
65–70 Illegal Hawkers Evicted in Jogeshwari
A parallel drive was conducted in Jogeshwari, covering Jogeshwari Caves Road, Subhash Road in Jogeshwari East, and SV Road near Poonam Nagar. The K-North Ward cleared approximately 65 to 70 illegal hawkers who had illegally set up shop in these areas, along with unauthorized shanties that had sprung up on both sides of the road. A demolition drive was also carried out on Borasapad Road in Kandivali West.
BMC Commits to Sustained Cleanliness Push
BMC Additional Commissioner Ashwini Joshi stated that the civic body is maintaining constant vigilance and has accelerated the removal of footpath encroachments across the city. She added that the broader cleanliness campaign running in parallel includes measures to ensure dust-free roads, removal of abandoned vehicles, toilet cleaning three times daily, and continued action against illegal hoardings citywide.
With the post-encroachment clearances now freeing up footpaths and roads, pedestrians are once again able to walk without obstruction in several of Mumbai’s previously congested stretches. Civic officials indicated the drives will continue across remaining wards as part of the administration’s sustained push for a cleaner and encroachment-free Mumbai.
