'Pedestrian First' drive: Mumbai civic body gives housing societies a month to remove illegal footpath ramps, encroachments

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC on Thursday issued a onemonth ultimatum to housing societies commercial establishments and shop owners to remove unauthorised ramps encroachments and other structures obstructing footpaths warning that strict action will be taken against violators if they fail to complyThe directive was issued by BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide during an inspection of footpaths in the western suburbs as part of the civic bodys Pedestrian First campaignStressing that footpaths are meant solely for pedestrians Bhide said unauthorised ramps commercial structures and other obstructions would no longer be toleratedAshwini Bhide inspects western suburbs under Pedestrian First driveDuring the inspection Bhide visited areas in the KWest and PSouth wards including Swami Vivekanand Road Ram Ganesh Gadkari Marg Bandu Gore Marg Goregaon Railway Station Road Seth Shri Devarajji Gundecha Chowk Tomato Galli near Goregaon station and Doodh Sagar Marg She directed officials to clear encroachments and restore footpaths for pedestrian useHousing societies asked to restore footpaths within one monthThe BMC Commissioner said several housing societies and commercial establishments have built ramps on footpaths to facilitate vehicle movement reducing walking space and forcing pedestrians onto roads She noted that the problem disproportionately affects senior citizens women children and persons with disabilities compromising their safetyBhide directed all housing societies and shop owners to remove such unauthorised ramps and restore the footpaths at their own expense within one month Failure to comply she warned would invite action under BMC regulationsAlternative spaces planned for commercial stallsShe also instructed officials to identify alternative locations for commercial stalls currently occupying footpaths wherever possible saying pedestrian movement must remain the priority320 km of footpaths to be made encroachmentfreeUnder the first phase of the Pedestrian First campaign the BMC plans to make 320 km of footpaths in KWest Ward completely encroachmentfree Of the wards 355 roads work has already begun on 27 roads covering 377 km of footpathsFocus on Cooper Hospital schools and collegesBhide said priority is being given to Ram Ganesh Gadkari Marg and Swami Vivekanand Road in Vile Parle West as these roads witness heavy movement of ambulances patients and visitors heading to Dr RN Cooper Hospital besides students travelling to nearby colleges and educational institutionsShe said removing encroachments from these stretches is essential for both pedestrian safety and smoother traffic movementBusinesses near Goregaon station to be relocatedDuring the inspection of Bandu Gore Marg near Goregaon West Railway Station Bhide observed that encroachments were causing inconvenience to pedestrians and worsening traffic congestion She directed officials to expedite the relocation of affected businessesAccording to the BMC Bandu Gore Marg which is 350 metres long and 134 metres wide is used daily by nearly 70000 railway commuters As part of the first phase 43 commercial structures near Goregaon West station have already been removed while roadwidening work is planned In the second phase around 11 more structures are proposed to be removed by the end of the year to facilitate improvements at the Swami Vivekanand RoadndashBandu Gore Marg junctionFootpath upgrades and beautification to be expeditedBhide also instructed officials to fasttrack footpath improvement beautification and pedestrian safety measures across the inspected areasAdditional Commissioner Zone IV Dr Bhagyeshree Kapse Deputy Commissioner Commissioners Office Prashant Gaikwad Assistant Commissioner PWest Ward Kundan Walvi Assistant Commissioner P South Ward Aniruddha Kulkarni and other civic officials accompanied the civic chief for the inspection