BMC demolishes 17 illegal structures and cuts sewage lines of 8 Andheri businesses
On Tuesday, June 23, 2026, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) demolished 17 unauthorized commercial structures and removed footpath encroachments in the Aram Nagar, J. P. Marg, and Versova areas of Andheri (West), Mumbai. The anti-encroachment drive was carried out by the BMC K West Division Office and was headed by Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Dr. (Mrs.) Ashwini Joshi.
According to civic officials, several local establishments had used mandatory open spaces as service areas and erected unauthorized covers over them. In addition to clearing these physical encroachments on the footpaths, the BMC disconnected the illegal sewage connections of eight local businesses. The affected establishments included Arbab, Barista, Soraizai, Hakim Salon, Persia Darbar, Ink N Bretto Menu, Darjeeling Leo’s Momo, and China Suburb.
The operation was conducted as a joint effort by several civic departments, including Conservation, Public Health, Licensing, Fire, Building and Factories, and the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA). During the drive, officials seized various items from the encroached areas, including an LPG hot plate, electric induction cooktops, storage racks, an electric oil fryer, a microwave oven, wooden tables, a commercial LPG cylinder, and other furniture.
Civic officials stated that the drive is part of an ongoing campaign over the last two months to decongest heavily crowded areas in the suburbs. The BMC has been actively removing undocumented structures, shop extensions, hutments, and encroachments on roads, footpaths, and public land. The broader goal of these actions is to improve pedestrian movement, ease traffic congestion, and expand public infrastructure.
The civic body has previously faced pressure from the Bombay High Court, which has pulled up the BMC on several occasions for failing to address unauthorized structures on roads and footpaths. The action on Tuesday followed a similar drive on Monday, June 22, 2026, where 17 unauthorized structures were also demolished in Andheri West.
