BMC Clears Nearly 68 Km of Footpaths in Mumbai Under Pedestrians First Drive
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has cleared nearly 68 kilometres of footpaths across Mumbai as part of its ongoing 'Pedestrians First' initiative, initiating 443 enforcement actions to remove encroachments and obstacles.
The civic body is targeting 200 footpaths in the first phase of the drive, with work currently underway on 81 footpaths. The initiative focuses on pedestrian walkways connecting railway and Metro stations, schools, colleges, hospitals, government and civic offices, religious sites, and other high-footfall locations across the city.
Between August 1 and August 14, the BMC conducted 337 enforcement actions. These efforts resulted in the removal of 77 unauthorised structures and 112 unauthorised hawkers. Civic teams also cleared 49 street furniture items, 63 storage materials, 27 shop signboards, 14 general signboards, and 49 banners obstructing pedestrian movement. The drive further included rectifying 25 structures adjoining authorised shops, repairing eight footpaths, and eliminating eight unauthorised parking spaces.
According to a civic official, licensed vendors have been instructed to operate strictly within designated zones, keeping their stock, signboards, and display items within prescribed limits. The drive is also addressing physical obstructions such as unauthorised ramps, inward-opening gates, improper tree branches, broken walkway sections, uneven levels, and faulty footpath construction to establish continuous and accessible pathways.
To ensure footpaths remain clear, the BMC plans continuous monitoring. Ward officials will inspect at least 90 percent of footpaths in each ward on a monthly basis. Assistant Commissioners will oversee enforcement and submit weekly ward-level reports accompanied by before-and-after photographs. Deputy Commissioners will verify these submissions, while Additional Commissioners will conduct fortnightly progress reviews. Inquiries and complaints logged through the MARG Portal will be resolved within specified timeframes.
Pedestrian safety remains a major focus of the campaign, with pedestrians accounting for 44 percent of Mumbai's road accident fatalities in 2023, according to the city's Road Safety Annual Report. The BMC warned that repeat violators will face strict legal action as regular surveillance continues across all wards.
