The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has cleared nearly 68 km of footpaths across 81 stretches during the first 14 days of its ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign. The initiative has been undertaken to remove encroachments and other obstructions that force pedestrians onto roads, with the objective of creating safer, continuous and obstruction-free pedestrian pathways across Mumbai.
In the first phase, 200 footpaths have been identified for action, with work having commenced on 81 stretches. Between August 1 and 14, the civic administration conducted 337 eviction drives. During these operations, 77 unauthorised structures were demolished and 112 illegal hawkers were removed. In addition, 49 units of street furniture, 63 units of storage material, 27 shop boards, 14 signboards and 49 banners were cleared from footpaths. Eight footpaths were repaired, while eight unauthorised parking spaces created on footpaths were removed. The campaign has been positioned as a pedestrian-safety initiative aimed at improving the quality and continuity of Mumbai’s walking infrastructure.
According to the BMC, nearly 50% of daily travel in Mumbai is undertaken on foot. However, broken or uneven footpaths, hawker obstructions, parked vehicles, unauthorised ramps, storage material, hoardings and other barriers have frequently disrupted pedestrian movement and forced people onto roads. The civic body has also cited the Mumbai Road Safety Annual Report 2023, according to which pedestrians accounted for 44% of road accident fatalities. The BMC has therefore stated that the campaign is intended to address pedestrian safety along with encroachment and obstruction-related concerns.
Priority has been given to areas with heavy pedestrian movement, including locations around railway and metro stations, bus stops, hospitals, schools, colleges, markets and religious places. Licensed vendors have been instructed to operate strictly within designated spaces, while unauthorised ramps, outward-opening gates, improperly maintained trees, broken footpath stretches and level differences are also being addressed.
To maintain the campaign, the BMC has planned monthly inspections covering at least 90% of footpaths in every ward. Assistant commissioners will conduct inspections, while wards will submit weekly reports detailing action taken along with before-and-after photographs. These reports will be verified by deputy municipal commissioners, followed by fortnightly reviews by the additional municipal commissioner. Avinash Dhakne, additional municipal commissioner, Eastern Suburbs, has stated that enforcement will continue even when cleared obstructions and hawkers return. Action has also been taken against eligible hawkers occupying more space than allotted, with licence suspension being considered for violations.
The campaign has received support from citizen representatives, who have stressed the need for sustained enforcement. Mandeep Singh Makkar, founder of the Chandivali Citizens Welfare Association, has called for the exercise to continue consistently. Concerns have also been raised over an alleged nexus between encroachers and officials, with such practices being identified as a potential challenge to maintaining the cleared pedestrian spaces.
The BMC has indicated that continued inspections, enforcement drives and senior-level reviews will be used to ensure that footpaths remain accessible and safer for pedestrians across Mumbai.
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