Bengaluru, Mumbai civic bodies clear footpaths and encroachments

The Story in Brief

Civic bodies in Bengaluru and Mumbai have launched or carried out drives to clear footpaths of shops, hawkers and other obstructions. Bengaluru Central City Corporation removed more than 150 shops beside Victoria Hospital, while Bengaluru West City Corporation cleared 35 encroachments along a 250-metre stretch of Vijayanagar Food Street after a Lokayukta complaint. In Mumbai, Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide ordered clearance work under the Pedestrian First campaign, which aims to cover 320 kilometres of footpaths. Officials said some stretches serve hospital patients, ambulances, students and motorists.

The Bengaluru reports cite complaints about blocked pedestrian paths, parking and congestion. The New Indian Express reports that notices were issued before the Victoria Hospital action, while civic officials called the shops illegal. The reports provide limited details on vendor relocation, rehabilitation or long-term monitoring. Mumbai officials have identified 27 of 355 roads in K West ward for work covering 37.7 kilometres.