The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to strengthen its crackdown on illegal hawkers and other footpath obstructions in mumbai by deploying a dedicated fleet of 27 vehicles under its ongoing Pedestrian First campaign.
A proposal to hire the vehicles for one year, estimated to cost around ₹3.12 crore including 4% contingencies, is scheduled to be presented before the BMC Standing Committee on Wednesday, September 2.
The initiative is part of the wider effort to remove illegal encroachments, improve footpath accessibility and ensure that pedestrian spaces remain available for public use.
According to the civic proposal, the fleet will provide 9,855 shifts during the one-year contract period. Each vehicle will operate for a 12-hour shift every day and will be deployed by the BMC’s License Department for anti-encroachment operations across the city’s municipal wards.
The vehicles will primarily be used on roads and pedestrian routes that experience heavy footfall, where illegal hawking and other obstructions frequently affect pedestrian movement.
The civic body said the dedicated fleet is necessary to ensure the “rapid and uninterrupted” removal of unauthorised street vendors and other encroachments from footpaths.
The focus on busy roads and railway station areas is expected to play a key role in improving pedestrian movement, particularly in locations that see large crowds during morning and evening peak hours.
Three agencies participated in the tender process, with Infra Transprojects emerging as the lowest bidder. The company quoted ₹3,050 per shift, which is the same as the rate estimated by the BMC.
The proposed arrangement is intended to provide the civic administration with dedicated transport support for enforcement teams and help maintain continuity in anti-encroachment operations.
Until the new contract is finalised, the BMC has also approved interim work worth up to ₹50 lakh under administrative urgency. The temporary arrangement is aimed at preventing any disruption in enforcement activities.
The vehicle deployment comes as the BMC steps up its citywide Pedestrian First campaign, which aims to restore footpaths for pedestrians and improve walking conditions across Mumbai.
As part of the drive, the civic body has reportedly cleared 134 encroached footpaths in one month, reclaiming nearly 197 km of pedestrian space. In the campaign's first phase, the BMC has set a target of clearing encroachments from 200 footpaths.
The campaign is also being expanded in Mumbai's eastern suburbs, with railway station areas receiving particular attention because of heavy pedestrian traffic.
In the eastern suburbs, the BMC has identified several roads and commercial areas where encroachments are affecting pedestrian access.
In Mulund, 13 roads have been identified for footpath clearance. The civic body is also planning to relocate 94 hawking stalls near Bhandup railway station and 77 stalls outside Kanjurmarg railway station.
Overall, the BMC plans to improve pedestrian access along approximately 20.50 km of footpaths across 14 roads in S Ward.
Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide has directed civic officials to prepare detailed plans for improving footpaths and managing traffic around railway stations, particularly during peak hours.
The directions followed three-hour ground inspections of T, S and N wards, covering areas including Mulund, Bhandup, Kanjurmarg and Ghatkopar.
Officials have been asked to identify problem areas and develop measures to create safer and more accessible pedestrian routes around busy railway stations.
Under the Pedestrian First campaign, 13 roads in T Ward have already been taken up for footpath clearance, with anti-encroachment action underway to create continuous pedestrian corridors.
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