BMC Clears Encroachments Along Swami Vivekanand Road Under ‘Pedestrian First’ Drive
Mumbai, 31st August 2026: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Monday carried out a special enforcement drive along Swami Vivekanand Road, clearing illegal hawkers and encroachments from the stretch between Milan Subway and V.M. Marg Junction.
The drive was conducted by the K/West Ward as part of the civic body’s ongoing ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign aimed at clearing footpaths and improving pedestrian movement across the city.
During the operation, BMC officials removed unauthorised hawkers and other encroachments obstructing pedestrian pathways. Ramps, construction material, waste and other obstacles affecting movement on the footpaths were also cleared.
The civic body has been carrying out similar drives across Mumbai as part of its citywide campaign to restore pedestrian spaces and keep footpaths free from encroachments.
The ‘Pedestrian First’ initiative focuses on clearing unauthorised structures, hawker obstructions, stored material, signboards and other impediments from footpaths, particularly in areas with high pedestrian movement.
The BMC had earlier said that the first phase of the campaign targets 200 footpaths across the city. By August 29, encroachments had been cleared from 134 footpaths, with nearly 197 km of pedestrian space reclaimed. Enforcement action had been carried out at 1,459 locations across Mumbai.
The civic body has also stated that cleared footpaths will be monitored regularly to prevent re-encroachment.
