Despite a clear directive from the Bombay High Court, citizens across Mumbai remain unconvinced about the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) commitment to removing footpath encroachments. The court’s order on July 7 to form a dedicated cell to tackle illegal occupation of pavements was met with scepticism from residents who have long battled squatter-induced chaos across the city.
The latest legal push stemmed from complaints filed by two housing societies in Powai, where residents reported footpath squatters had set up permanent dwellings, blocking public space and raising sanitation and safety concerns. According to local representatives, what began as short-term displacement following evictions elsewhere has evolved into entrenched illegal settlements. Clotheslines, cooking setups, and makeshift shelters have replaced pedestrian zones, making walkways impassable and turning previously open pavements into congested micro-habitations. Citizens’ groups argue the issue is far from isolated. In neighbourhoods like Juhu, Colaba, and Andheri, similar grievances dominate resident meetings with civic officials and local MLAs.
But despite persistent petitions and repeated promises of action, residents claim little has changed. Instead, they accuse the BMC of ad-hoc removals with no follow-up, allowing squatters to return within days. A resident from Colaba highlighted how once-pristine tourist corridors like Boman Cawasji Marg and Colaba Causeway are now overrun with unauthorised food stalls, open-air cooking units, and informal vending zones. These not only obstruct pedestrian traffic but also pose serious safety risks in emergencies such as fires or crowd surges. In Juhu, members of citizen networks say that raising the issue with BMC and Advanced Locality Management (ALM) groups has yielded limited results. Officials often cite staffing shortages or political constraints.
The absence of elected corporators over the past two years has further worsened the communication gap between residents and the civic body. Civic officials, however, claim that regular action is being taken. They argue that enforcement teams are constrained by the cyclical nature of the problem — evictions are followed by immediate re-encroachment. Without adequate rehabilitation or shelter options, evicted squatters often return to the same locations, making enforcement repetitive and unsustainable. This recurring failure to permanently clear encroachments has damaged public trust in the municipal administration. Pedestrian rights advocates have warned that the encroachment of public space not only violates urban planning norms but undermines basic constitutional rights of safe mobility.
For a city striving to become more liveable, accessible, and climate-resilient, the reclaiming of public spaces is vital. As footpaths disappear under mounting illegal use, the call from citizens is no longer just for action — it is for accountability and systemic reform. Whether BMC can respond with sustained and humane solutions remains to be seen.
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