The Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation has issued a show-cause notice to the head of its hawker-removal squad in Dombivli East after vendors continued occupying roads and footpaths near the railway station despite court orders prohibiting hawking within 150 metres of the station.
The notice was issued by G Ward assistant commissioner Jayram Shinde to squad chief Kadar Revdi. Shinde also warned other members of the hawker-control team that failure to perform their duties could result in strict action.
The municipal action follows complaints that hawkers were continuing to operate in the station area during the morning and evening, blocking pedestrian space and portions of the road. KDMC Commissioner Abhinav Goyal had directed that no hawker should be allowed to sit in the station area, but residents reportedly continued to see vendors operating until late at night.
The enforcement concerns have intensified after a dispute in Ursekarwadi, near Dombivli station, two days before the notice was issued. The dispute reportedly arose over the right to occupy a location for business and involved hawkers and people described in the report as established occupants of the area. One group allegedly assaulted a hawker. The matter was taken to Ramnagar police station, while a video of the altercation circulated on social media.
The restrictions around the station are linked to court orders barring hawkers from operating within 150 metres of the railway station. Despite those orders, the continued occupation of roads and footpaths has led to public anger and renewed scrutiny of how the municipal corporation is enforcing the restriction on the ground.
The notice places responsibility on the local enforcement structure rather than only on the vendors. The G Ward hawker-control work is being handled by assistant commissioner-level officials and squad heads, including Revdi and Narendra Kobalkar, according to the report. The report also refers to a former squad member, Bhagwan Patil, who had earlier been suspended after being caught allegedly accepting payments from hawkers. It also states that previous assistant commissioners had repeatedly reprimanded squad officials.
The immediate administrative question is whether the notice will lead to sustained enforcement at the station rather than short-term removals. The road and footpath obstruction affects daily movement around one of the city’s busiest commuter points, while the reported assault shows how competition over vending spaces can escalate when enforcement and allocation remain contested.
KDMC’s next step is to examine the explanation submitted by the hawker-removal squad chief and determine whether further disciplinary action is warranted. The corporation has also warned the remaining squad staff that dereliction of duty could invite strict action.
