The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) conducted a massive anti-encroachment drive at Colaba Causeway in south Mumbai and removed around 67 illegal hawkers from the area, officials said on Wednesday.
The A Ward of the BMC carried out the drive against illegal hawkers in the Colaba Causeway area.
“During the operation, 67 unauthorised hawkers were removed from the footpaths and streets,” officials said.
The action was taken under the guidance of Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Dr Ashwini Joshi, to ensure public safety, smooth pedestrian movement, and compliance with civic rules. The drive was led by Deputy Commissioner (Zone 1) Chanda Jadhav and Assistant Municipal Commissioner (A Ward) Jaydeep More, said the officials.
The Mumbai civic body said that the operation was part of a continuous effort to remove illegal encroachments and ensure that public spaces remain free from obstructions to both pedestrians and traffic.
The BMC said that similar actions against unauthorised hawkers will continue in the coming days to maintain discipline and order in busy market areas like Colaba Causeway.
In an another action on Tuesday, more than 100 houses and hutments built on collector’s land in Devi Mandir area of Malwani were razed, officials had earlier said.
Officials reportedly spared structures whose occupants could produce documents proving residence prior to 2011. However, homes belonging to those without such proof were demolished.
All the affected structures were allegedly built on collector-owned land in the Malwani Gaon Devi Mandir area.
Meanwhile, senior Maharashtra Congress leader and Malad MLA Aslam Shaikh alleged that the demolition was done at the orders of the `Guardian Minister`.
In an official statement, Shaikh stated that the district collector carried out a demolition drive in the areas of Jyuliuswadi, Ali Talav, and Malvani. As a result of the action, the homes of poor residents have been destroyed.
The demolition drive was conducted without any prior notice and in clear violation of the Supreme Court’s orders, driven by the dirty politics of the `Guardian Minister`, the statement said.
It further said that chaos has been created by a few selfish leaders intoxicated by power, who have manipulated the administration to act at their command.
“I am deeply distressed by this inhumane incident. In light of the suffering caused to the people whose homes have been demolished, I have decided to cancel the celebration of my birthday scheduled for November 5. Public welfare activities such as grain distribution, sewing machine distribution, and health camps will take place as planned. However, no ceremony will be organised on the occasion of my birthday,” the Congress leader said.
