BMC says 246 km of Mumbai footpaths cleared in Pedestrian First drive

BMC says it has cleared obstructions from about 246 km of footpaths across Mumbai, taking action at 1,711 locations in all 26 civic wards.

Under its Pedestrian First campaign, the civic body has identified 200 footpaths for encroachment removal and begun work on 136 of them. BMC said the drive follows Supreme Court directions to keep footpaths free of unauthorised hawkers and other encroachments.

Railway-station areas are a priority. BMC says it has cleared footpaths around Andheri, Vile Parle, Jogeshwari West and Bhandup stations, and plans further work near Kanjurmarg, Mulund and Ghatkopar.

At a Byculla session on walking infrastructure, Urban Works Institute founder Shreya Gadepalli said roughly half of Mumbai residents travel on foot each day, while private vehicles occupy nearly 82% of road space but carry about 19% of commuters. “Footpaths are for citizens,” she said.

Additional municipal commissioner Avinash Dhakane said the civic body must make footpaths accessible and convenient enough for people to choose walking.