BMC plans hawker-free zones across all wards
These areas will be jointly supervised by civic and police staff to ensure consistent enforcement and pedestrian safety.
A BMC official said, "Complaints about hawkers occupying footpaths and narrowing walking space have been increasing, especially in high traffic areas. We have been asked to address this through targeted enforcement. The commissioner has also instructed that additional manpower and machinery be provided to wards on demand.
Consistent enforcement will send a strong message to hawkers and discourage them from returning.
"
In May, a dozen housing societies from Thakur village in Kandivli East had approached Mumbai North MP and minister Piyush Goyal, seeking his urgent intervention to address growing encroachment by illegal hawkers in their locality. They said hawkers had taken over roads and footpaths, and claimed that no action had been taken despite repeated complaints and peaceful protests.
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In a similar move, traders' body Dadar Vyapari Sangh alleged in a letter to BMC and police chiefs in Feb that the menace of illegal hawkers in Dadar had reached alarming levels. It said it had to discontinue a valet parking initiative it had launched due to lack of official support.
Citizen activist Nikhil Desai said effective action is possible if BMC and police work in coordination. "Dadar TT, which is on the list of proposed hawker-free zones, continues to be overrun by hundreds of hawkers at any given time.
The only sustainable solution is to relocate them to designated hawking zones." He also recalled how in March a ward officer who took action against illegal flower vendors outside Matunga station was abruptly transferred after facing political pressure.
Rajkumar Sharma, president of the Chembur-based advanced locality management and networking action committee, felt authorities keep passing the buck. "Ideally, BMC officials should act against such encroachments before residents are made to take matters in their own hands and go to court."
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