Mumbai: The Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is effectively implementing the ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign with an aim to ensure safe, convenient and hassle-free travel for the citizens of Mumbai. Under the first phase of this initiative, encroachments will be removed from 320 km of footpaths. Since nearly 50% of daily journeys in Mumbai are made on foot, pedestrian safety should be given top priority. Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide has issued strict instructions to immediately clear the footpaths of all unauthorised hawkers, encroachments and other obstructions, ensuring that they are completely free from obstructions. Furthermore, necessary measures related to improvement, beautification and safety of footpaths should be implemented immediately. Assistant Commissioners of all administrative wards will have to review the work at the ward level daily, while Deputy Commissioners will have to review the zonal level once a week and submit a report to the Additional Municipal Commissioner. The Additional Municipal Commissioner will have to review after every 15 days. No negligence, delay or carelessness will be tolerated in this campaign. Commissioner Bhide has warned that strict action will be taken against officials found failing to comply with these orders and accountability will be fixed for such negligence. A review meeting involving various departments of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation was recently held at the municipal headquarters under the guidance of the Municipal Commissioner.
All Assistant Commissioners should personally inspect the footpaths in their respective jurisdictions daily and ensure effective implementation of anti-encroachment measures. This process should not be limited to taking action only. Continuous monitoring is necessary to address the recurrence of encroachments. Daily progress reports with ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos must be reviewed. Bhide has warned that strict action will be taken against any official found guilty of delay, negligence or carelessness in the work.
Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide said that keeping the footpaths free from encroachments is not just a one-time campaign but an ongoing administrative responsibility. Construction materials, debris, abandoned or improperly parked vehicles, piles of accumulated garbage, and uneven surfaces create obstacles for pedestrians. Therefore, all types of encroachments on footpaths in public areas, especially near schools, hospitals, railway stations, metro stations, bus depots, markets and high footfall zones, should be removed immediately to ensure that the footpaths are safe and accessible for pedestrians.
Unauthorized advertisement boards, hoardings, doors opening outwards from buildings, high ramps and other physical obstructions on the footpath should be removed immediately. Ashwini Bhide further clarified that the concerned officials should regularly verify that the licensed vendors strictly confine their sales activities, stocking of materials, stalls and signage to their designated areas. Furthermore, non-conforming or uneven ramps should be removed. It should be ensured that the entrances and doors of the building open inwards within the property boundaries. Tree branches obstructing the footpath should be scientifically cut as required. Footpath designs should be prepared as per prevailing standards. New footpaths should be constructed strictly as per the prescribed standard designs and using M-40 grade concrete. Use of paver blocks or stamped concrete is strictly prohibited under any circumstances. Moreover, footpaths should be made safe by removing gaps, uneven surfaces and all other physical obstacles. Bhide directed the concerned officials to ensure that absolutely no negligence is done in this regard. Bhide said that removing encroachments and making footpaths safe and walkable for pedestrians will greatly benefit students, senior citizens, disabled persons and the general public. This will increase pedestrian safety, reduce the incidence of road accidents, and encourage more citizens to use footpaths. Consequently, this will help improve the efficiency and speed of road traffic, thereby reducing traffic congestion. Reduced congestion will improve air quality and have a positive impact on public health. All concerned authorities should prepare a list of footpaths on a priority basis. Effective enforcement should be ensured through continuous follow-up to prevent recurrence of encroachments. Officers should not neglect their duties. Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide has made it clear that strict action will be taken against any official found obstructing the footpaths.

After the video of harassment of a Muslim family during a tour in Mumbai’s Pune Janir Ghati went viral, the police have given a clean chit to the youth who recited the poem after investigation. The video is still circulating on social media, on which comments are also being made, and in the comments, there is an attempt to spoil the atmosphere by giving this video a Hindu-Muslim color, but when the police examined it carefully, they found that the youth who are reciting the poem in the video did not have the purpose or intention to harass or disturb the Muslim family, nor did they provoke them in any way. The video tells that a poem has been sung on some young ghats. “From these tops of the horses of the Haldi Ghati, this army of heroes is being brought by the Rana to fight the Mughals.” This poem is based on the famous Al-Watabi song by the famous poet Shyam Narayan Pandey, which is based on the bravery of Maharana Pratap and his Chetak horse. Similarly, the story of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj is also narrated in the poem. Along with this, the defeat of Afzal Khan, Shaista Khan and Aurangzeb is also narrated. It has been popular among the public for many years as a traditional folk song. A video is circulating on social media in which a group of tourists who are in the Janir taluka area for tourism during the monsoon are said to be engaged in singing the above song. This video was recorded in the Nana Ghati area. Some comments under the video have alleged that this is an attempt by the youth to harass a Muslim family. After a careful examination of the video, the police said that there is no act of harassment or intimidation towards the Muslim family. The group is only engaged in singing songs. There is no objectionable act in this and no provocation has been found. The police have made strict security arrangements at the tourist spot after this incident and the video went viral. Along with this, police security has also been increased so that law and order is maintained.

Mumbai: Police has busted a gang of BEST bus passengers stealing mobile phones. Jagat Jyoti Mahant, 49, a resident of MIDC police station limits in Andhra, boarded bus route number 415 from SPZ bus stop MIDC to Andhra on June 6 afternoon. During this, his mobile phone went missing. The complainant said that he had kept his mobile phone in his pants pocket and an unknown person stole it. In this matter, the police have registered a case of theft and started investigation. During the investigation, the MID police examined 40 to 45 CCTV footage and arrested 7 accused while busting the gang of BEST bus passengers traveling in Shivaji Nagar. They seized more than Rs 12 lakh worth of goods and 135 mobile phones from their possession. This operation was carried out by DCP Datta Nalawade on the instructions of Mumbai Police Commissioner Devin Bharti. Done.