Mumbai: As part of the ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign launched by the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), various departments are carrying out a drive to remove encroachments to ensure safe, convenient and obstacle-free routes for pedestrians. In the first phase of this campaign, 134 out of 200 marked footpaths have been cleared of encroachments, effectively freeing a total area of ​​197 km. Moreover, action was taken against 94 unauthorised stalls on footpaths near Bhandup Railway Station (West) in the last two days. Under the guidance of Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide, as per the directions of the High Court, the BMC is implementing the ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign to immediately remove unauthorised hawkers and encroachments from footpaths across Mumbai. Commissioner Bhide has directed the Additional Municipal Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners to ensure strict implementation of this campaign. She is also personally reviewing the progress made in each administrative ward and the actions taken by various departments within these wards. The municipal administration has appealed to the business community and citizens of Mumbai to cooperate in this campaign. The ‘Pedestrian First’ (Padachari Pratham) campaign has been launched in Mumbai to make footpaths accessible to pedestrians. Accordingly, emphasis has been placed on removing obstructions from footpaths in areas with heavy pedestrian traffic such as the areas around Bhandup railway station. In the first phase, encroachments are being removed from 14 footpaths in Bhandup area. The work of removing encroachments from about 11 of these footpaths has already started. The operation was conducted under the guidance of Additional Municipal Commissioner (Eastern Suburbs) Dr. Avinash Dhakane, Deputy Commissioner (Zone 6) Mr. Santosh Kumar Dhonde and Assistant Commissioner (S-Ward) Samrin Syed.

The operation has cleared the way for pedestrians to and from Bhandup Railway Station. This will help in reducing traffic and pedestrian congestion during peak hours. Moreover, citizens will now have access to an obstacle-free footpath leading from Bhandup Railway Station area towards Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg. The operation involved 5 JCBs, 10 dumpers, over 50 officers and staff members, 100 labourers, and over 70 police personnel. Along with the ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign, ‘S’ ward is also making special efforts to eliminate ‘garbage vulnerable spots’ (GVPs) which are prone to accumulation of large quantities of garbage.

Appeal to business owners and citizens
The Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) administration appeals to citizens to remember that footpaths are designed for the safe and easy movement of pedestrians. Do not create obstructions by placing unauthorized shops, stalls, structures or any other material on the footpaths. The corporation is continuously taking action to keep the footpaths clean under the ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign, and strict action will be taken against violators as per the rules. The campaign was carried out at 1,459 locations in the municipal corporation areas. In the first phase of this campaign, encroachments will be removed from 200 footpaths. Out of these, work has been completed on 134. Nearly 197 km of footpaths have been cleared of obstructions, with enforcement actions being carried out at 1,459 locations. The campaign is being carried out in all 26 administrative wards of the Municipal Corporation.

After the mischief and violence of the miscreants returning from the Eid Milad-un-Nabi (peace be upon him) procession in Mumbai’s Lalbagh Parel, tension spread after the religious flag and flag were desecrated in the VP Road Arab Gali area, but the police have taken the person who insulted the flag into custody and started questioning him. Now the situation is peaceful, but the tension persists. The public should exercise patience and restraint and not pay attention to the rumors. Police arrangements have been increased. An incident of alleged desecration of a religious and Islamic flag belonging to a specific sect has come to light in the VP Road area of ​​South Mumbai.

After the incident, the police have deployed heavy contingents in the area.
The police have registered a case under Section 299 of the BNS and have arrested a person on charges of desecration of the flag.

The police are questioning the person to find out what is the motive behind this act.
Heavy police deployment has been made to ensure law and order in the area. The situation is currently normal and peaceful and senior police officers are present at the scene. DCP Ragsodha said that after insulting and allegedly desecrating the religious flag, the police have taken one person into custody and a case has been registered and an investigation has begun. Currently, peace is restored, but tension persists. The police have issued an alert and arrangements have been increased.

Mumbai: Mankhurd Police claims to have arrested the wanted absconding accused in the MCOCA case. The wanted accused Ashfaq Aishamuddin Khan alias Babbu, aged 39, was absconding since the case was registered in the Mankhurd police station under sections 308(5), 351(3), 329(3), 333 of the Bharatiya Naya Sanhita and sections 3(1), 3(2), 3(4) of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999 (MCOCA). He was formally arrested. The said accused had been absconding for the last six months to avoid arrest. Technical analysis of the CDR of the accused’s mobile number and social media accounts was being done, while information about the people in his contact list was also being sought. In addition, confidential informants were also instructed to provide information about the accused and trace him. Information was received through the confidential informant that the said accused was hiding his identity in the Kalyan area. Based on this information, his presence and residence were confirmed through technical analysis and further information obtained through local informants. The police kept a vigil in the area and the police team strategically took him into custody without giving the accused a chance to escape or leave by vehicle. He was arrested and produced before the Special Sessions Court, MCOCA Court, Mumbai, where the esteemed court has granted him 8 days police custody remand. Further investigation is underway. This remarkable operation was carried out under the guidance of Commissioner of Police Devin Bharti, Joint Commissioner of Police Manoj Kumar Sharma, Additional Commissioner of Police (Eastern Regional Division) Dhananjay Kulkarni, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Eastern Region) 01 Sameer.