The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has begun preparing to relocate 89 authorised shops near Santacruz railway station as part of a planned road widening project between Vakola Junction and the station, while directing officials to clear footpaths and remove encroachments across Santacruz West and Worli.
BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide issued the directions during inspections conducted on Wednesday under the civic body’s ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign and its drive to eliminate garbage-vulnerable points. The inspections covered footpaths, road maintenance, waste collection arrangements and facilities at Dr VN Shirodkar Maternity Hospital.
The proposed road widening concerns the stretch of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Road between Vakola Junction and Santacruz railway station in the H East Ward. The BMC plans to develop the road according to an approved road line width of 36.60 metres, or 120 feet. The ward office has issued 28 notices to acquire open spaces on adjoining properties for the project.
The civic body said 89 authorised shops near the railway station are to be relocated to nearby areas. Separately, 21 unauthorised shops have already been removed. The relocation is part of a wider exercise in the H West Ward, where officials have also been directed to expedite the relocation of 86 shops on Kanhubai Desai Road, 82 shops on Mahatma Gandhi Road, 50 vegetable vendors and 14 shops on Lokmanya Tilak Road.
During the inspection of Tilak Road and Mahatma Gandhi Road in Santacruz West, Bhide directed officials to remove encroachments and clear footpaths to provide unobstructed pedestrian movement. She also ordered the removal of cables hanging from the skywalk and instructed officials to maintain road dividers through regular cleaning. The removal of encroachments is to be carried out in phases.
The inspection also covered Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Road and Vile Parle station road. In Worli, Bhide reviewed footpath repair work on Adarsh Nagar Road and directed officials to carry out improvements to make the walking surfaces safer and easier to use. Civic staff were also instructed to regularly remove garbage accumulating beneath vehicles parked along roadsides.
At GL Loader Chowky on Senapati Bapat Marg, the commissioner inspected large, medium and small vehicles used for garbage collection. She reviewed arrangements for covering waste during transportation and examined equipment, including brushes used to remove dust from roads.
Bhide also visited Dr VN Shirodkar Maternity Hospital to assess medicine availability and facilities for women visiting the hospital for childbirth. She inspected the neonatal intensive care unit, which is expected to become operational soon. Medical officers briefed her on the computerised system used to maintain patient treatment records and manage medicine stocks.
