Mumbai activists urge BMC to audit government encroachments before footpath removal drive

As the BMC steps up its footpath encroachment removal drive under its revived lsquoPedestrian Firstrsquo policy civic activists have urged the corporation to first conduct a citywide audit of structures and obstructions put up permitted or maintained by government agencies themselvesMumbai March a citybased civic advocacy group said on Tuesday that the BMC should remove its own encroachments along with those of private establishments and street vendorsldquoWhatever BMC preaches it must practise There are several permanent fixtures that BMC approved and must now take accountability forrdquo said Gopal Zaveri of Mumbai MarchThe group said clearing only hawkers and street vendors would not resolve Mumbairsquos footpath problems and called for a comprehensive auditlsquoBMC must take responsibilityrsquoGopal Zaveri Mumbai MarchldquoThere are Aarey stalls that no longer sell milk Zunka Bhakar Kendras that no longer sell affordable food If policy interventions are required to remove such authorised encroachers then those must be done on priority also BMC must begin to take responsibility for their own mess conduct a citywide survey and remove obsolete and unauthorised structures instead of blaming hawkers alonerdquoDhaval Shah founder LOCAldquoThere are at least two or three Aarey milk stalls in our area occupying the entire footpath They now sell other goods such as chips and eggs while crates refrigerators and storage units are kept outside They end up using almost twice the space allotted to them This must also be checkedrdquoKaran Jotwani cofounder LOCAldquoMost licensed booths occupy too much space leaving little or no walkway for pedestrians Many pedestrians have been forced onto the road putting them at risk of being run over by cars and bikesrdquoGodfrey Pimenta citizensrsquo activistldquoA pedestrian policy cannot succeed unless pedestrians are first provided with continuous obstructionfree and properly maintained footpaths Broken paver blocks and utility chamber lids illegal parking and structures such as Aarey and Zunka Bhakar stalls telephone junction boxes and electrical substations are common obstructionsrdquoWhat BMCrsquos lsquoPedestrian Firstrsquo drive targetsThe civic body began its latest drive on August 7 after Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide directed officials to reclaim 320 km of footpaths across Mumbai The drive is targeting highfootfall areas including Dadar Mahim Matunga Andheri Goregaon Bandra and Pali HillThe focus includesgtgt Unauthorised hawkersgtgt Ramps and extensions from housing societies and commercial buildingsgtgt Rain sheds put up by shops and establishmentsgtgt Motorbikes and other vehicles parked on footpathsOther directionsAuthorised hawkers They have been told not to keep goods or other material outside their allotted spacesNogarbage zones The BMC has designated footpaths as lsquoNo Garbage Zonesrsquo with boards to be installed at these locationsRelocation Businesses causing pedestrian obstructions may be shiftedWhat the audit should covergtgt BMC structures and kiosksgtgt Police and RTO chowkisgtgt MTNL and other obsolete utility structuresgtgt Contractor cabins and temporary officesgtgt Abandoned government vehiclesgtgt Unnecessary railingsgtgt Aarey milk stallsgtgt Zunka Bhakar Kendra stallsgtgt Old PCOSTD boothsgtgt Government debris and construction materialgtgt Illegal parking and vehicle displaysgtgt Cattle and other permanent obstructionsgtgt Manholes and unsafe footpath conditionsBMC steps up inspectionsIn a statement on Tuesday the BMC said ldquoInstructions have been issued to the administration to remove obstructions from footpaths and the railway station vicinity and to implement necessary measures for the safe and convenient movement of commutersrdquoMunicipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide has conducted inspections on August 7 and 17 Additional Municipal Commissioner City Prajakta VermaLavangare on Tuesday inspected Prabhadevi railway station the proposed FOB and surrounding areasOfficials have been directed to remove unauthorised encroachments around the station relocate shared taxi stands and dropoff points resurface approach roads and widen entry and exit routes to ease pedestrian movement