BMC Clears Encroachments Across 246 Km of Footpaths Around Andheri, Other Stations
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has intensified its 'Pedestrian First' campaign across Mumbai, clearing footpaths and removing encroachments with a focus on railway station zones, including around Andheri station. The civic initiative is being implemented in compliance with Supreme Court directions to eliminate unauthorised hawkers and obstacles from walkways to make them safe and accessible.
Under the first phase of the campaign, the BMC targeted 200 footpaths across the city for clearance operations. Work has already commenced on 136 of those designated walkways. Across all 26 civic wards, the civic body has conducted actions at 1,711 locations, freeing approximately 246 kilometres of footpaths from obstructions.
Civic teams have paid particular attention to areas surrounding major transit hubs. In addition to Andheri, the BMC has removed encroachments and cleared walking spaces around railway stations in Vile Parle, Jogeshwari West, and Bhandup. Officials stated that similar clearance operations will continue around stations in Kanjurmarg, Mulund, and Ghatkopar in the coming days.
The drive was reviewed during a recent brainstorming session held in Byculla, which brought together civic officials, engineers, urban planners, and pedestrian-mobility experts. During the meeting, Urban Works Institute founder Shreya Gadepalli highlighted that roughly 50 percent of Mumbai residents commute on foot each day, while 30 percent rely on public transport and 20 percent travel by private vehicles. However, private vehicles occupy nearly 82 percent of available road space while carrying only about 19 percent of commuters.
Gadepalli stressed that footpaths are for citizens and that designing and maintaining walking infrastructure is a core duty of the civic administration. Additional Municipal Commissioner Avinash Dhakane noted that officials encounter several practical and legal hurdles during enforcement, adding that residents are more likely to walk when pedestrian infrastructure is convenient and safe.
Former Chief Secretary Dr Nitin Kareer emphasised that all BMC officials and engineers must thoroughly understand the 'Pedestrian First' framework. He noted that campaign guidelines should be communicated to every ward office, announcing that an information booklet on the initiative will be compiled.
