BMC removes 38 stalls from footpaths near three western railway stations

Thirty-eight unauthorised stalls were removed from footpaths near Andheri West, Vile Parle West and Jogeshwari West railway stations as the BMC began its Pedestrian First clearance campaign in western Mumbai.

The operation also covered Veera Desai Road and Swami Vivekanand Road. In K/West ward, the BMC has been carrying out large-scale clearance work since last week; it plans action on 27 roads in the Vile Parle area, with particular attention to the busy footpaths along SV Road.

The civic body said six footpaths around the three station areas, Ram Ganesh Gadkari Marg, Veera Desai Road and SV Road have already been cleared in this phase. A civic official said the work was intended to ease pedestrian and traffic congestion during peak hours.

The operation deployed a JCB, dumper, seven civic officials and staff, 15 workers and five police personnel. Separately, civic teams cleared unauthorised shops and stalls from footpaths in the Sandhurst Road–Wadibunder area.

The wider first phase targets 200 footpaths across Mumbai. The BMC has also proposed vehicle contracts for the clearance drive.