Mumbai: As per the ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign launched by the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), a total of 38 unauthorised stalls have been taken down in the Andheri (West) area, especially near Andheri Railway Station (West), Vile Parle Railway Station (West), Jogeshwari Railway Station (West), Jogeshwari Railway West Stand, Road Viera, Road Viera Station (West). The BMC is conducting a drive to remove encroachments through various departments to provide safe, convenient and obstacle-free routes for pedestrians. In the first phase of this drive, encroachments established on 200 footpaths across Mumbai are being removed. As part of this drive, a large-scale operation has been going on for the past one week under the BMC K-West Ward Office. As per the directions of the High Court. Under the guidance of Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide. The BMC is implementing the ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign across Mumbai to immediately remove unauthorised hawkers and encroachments from the footpaths, thereby ensuring that they remain free from obstructions. The municipal administration appeals to the business community and citizens of Mumbai to cooperate in this campaign. The ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign has been launched to make Mumbai’s footpaths available for pedestrians. Accordingly, encroachments are to be removed from 27 roads in the Vile Parle area. Emphasis has been placed on removing obstructions from footpaths in areas with heavy pedestrian traffic along Swami Vivekananda Road. In the first phase, encroachments were removed from six footpaths along Ram Ganesh Gadkari Marg, Veera Desai Marg, and Swami Vivekananda Marg, along with the station areas of Andheri (West), Vile Parle (West), and Jogeshwari. The operation was conducted under the guidance of Joint Commissioner (Zone 4) Dr. Bhagya Shri Kapse and Assistant Commissioner (K-West Ward) Chakrapani Ale. The operation has cleared the footpath for pedestrians along Andheri West, Vile Parle West, and Jogeshwari stations, as well as Swami Vivekananda Marg. This will help in reducing traffic and pedestrian congestion during peak hours. Moreover, citizens will now have access to barrier-free footpaths along Swami Vivekananda Marg. The operation involved a JCB, a dumper, more than seven officials and staff members, fifteen laborers and more than five police personnel. A campaign to remove encroachments was also launched in the Sandhurst Road area under the ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign. Action was taken against unauthorized shops and stalls set up on the footpath in the Wadi Bandar area.

Mumbai: Homeless residents today staged a protest at the Agripada police station against the builder over the redevelopment project in Kalapani Mominpura, accusing the builder of hooliganism and sending women to break the lock of the site and illegally carrying out illegal activities. The ruckus started at the Agripada police station when Samajwadi Party corporator Ambrain Abrahani reached the police station and requested the police to intervene in the matter and take action. Instead of listening to her, the senior police officer instructed her to sit outside and said that this is not a Mahanagar Palika office. After that, Ambrain sat on a dharna along with the residents inside the police station itself. Residents say that the contract for the Mominpura Kala Pani project was awarded to builder Bhpesh, but Bhpesh did not abide by the stipulated conditions and did not pay the rent and arrears to the residents for a year, after which first the residents suspended his contract, then the BMC also suspended his contract. Despite this, today, bouncers, women and men, on behalf of the builder entered the site and created a ruckus. In this matter, the local residents and the victims called the police and the police brought the situation under control. While the residents are angry with the builder on this issue, a resident, Naseem Bano, alleged that the builders Bhpesh and Obaid had sent these women and wrongdoings are happening on the site. She said that if anyone breaks the lock of the site, action will be taken against him. Naseem Bano alleged that the residents were also targeted by these fifty to forty women and there was an incident of beating along with scuffles. Local Corporator 212 Ambrain in Agripada Police has expressed his anger over the behavior of the builder and the police. He said that the builder was given a redevelopment contract for three years but he did not pay rent to anyone after which his contract was suspended and the BMC Commissioner had also suspended the contract four months ago. That is why today the builder sent male and female bouncers to the site. That is why the residents called me and I We inspected the site and then reached the police station. We staged a sit-in at the police station to register an FIR against the builder. The police assured that necessary action would be taken on the issue, after which the sit-in was called off. They further said that the residents have been displaced from their homes and are not even being provided rent, so an FIR should be registered against the builder.

The builder termed all the allegations baseless
Bhpesh Builder acquired the project through the Agripada BMC plot rehabilitation project and a formal agreement was completed with all the residents and the work is also underway. In such a situation, only some residents are obstructing the work, along with politicians, they are also obstructing this project. Bhpesh Builder said that he has all the approvals and permits related to the project and the residents are also ready for it, but some residents are opposing it under the guise of a private builder and a politician. He denied that his project has been canceled and that the BMC Commissioner has suspended it. He termed all the allegations baseless and said that we have provided rent to all the residents till March and we also have the receipts for it, yet some residents are making allegations. When asked that your people have reached the site and committed hooliganism, he called it a false and misleading allegation and said that we have CCTV footage and no such incident has taken place. According to the Agripada police, no case has been registered in this matter so far, however, the police have assured the people after the sit-in that necessary action and investigation will be taken on this issue.

Mumbai: The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is not just a journey to reach a sacred site; it is a voyage of faith, patience, self-discovery, and spiritual transformation. Senior journalist Priti Sompura shared her experiences from her recently concluded 13-day Kailash Mansarovar Yatra with fellow journalists at the Mumbai Press Club.

Sharing her emotional journey, Priti Sompura remarked that the pilgrimage to Kailash tests not only physical endurance but also an individual’s mental strength, patience, and faith. Treacherous paths, extreme altitudes, unpredictable weather, and low oxygen levels make every step of the journey challenging. Yet, it is the divine energy of Kailash and the profound spiritual realization that empower pilgrims to press on.

Priti Sompura also recounted her experience of the three-day Kailash Parikrama (circumambulation), describing it as one of the most arduous yet spiritually enriching and memorable experiences of her life. The grueling trek, coupled with extreme cold and high altitude, compels individuals to transcend their physical limitations.

She noted that upon reaching Kailash, one begins to question oneself and finds the opportunity for introspection. The journey connects us to our inner peace, distancing us from the noise, stress, and hectic pace of daily life.

“Kailash is not just a journey; it is a divine experience,” said Priti Sompura. “Standing before Mount Kailash evokes a sense of total surrender. In that moment, one realizes how insignificant we are in the face of the power of nature and the Divine.”

She added that the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra imparts vital life lessons—patience, humility, courage, gratitude, and the willingness to shed one’s ego. According to her, the journey holds the power to instill inner peace and transform one’s perspective on life.

During the interactive session at the Mumbai Press Club, Priti Sompura shared photographs, videos, and personal anecdotes from her trip, offering the audience a chance to intimately experience the natural beauty and spiritual atmosphere of Kailash. She spoke at length about the majestic, snow-capped Mount Kailash, the breathtaking natural beauty of the Himalayas, and the profound sense of peace experienced during the journey. The program also covered the challenges pilgrims face during the expedition and the necessary mental and physical preparations required before undertaking the Kailash Yatra.

Priti Sompura remarked that while the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is physically extremely demanding, the experience and spiritual fulfillment gained at the end of the journey are priceless.

“You do not return from Kailash with mere memories,” she said. “You return with a new perspective on life. Kailash grants you strength, peace, and the courage to face challenges. It teaches you surrender, how to let go of the ego, and how to become a better human being.”

She emphasized that everyone should experience the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra at least once in their lifetime—not merely as a pilgrimage, but as a journey into one’s own inner self.

For those who undertake the journey to Kailash with true devotion and faith, the mountain ceases to be just a destination; it transforms into a divine experience that remains with their heart and soul for a lifetime.