Makeshift outlets razed in Vile Parle

As part of a massive demolition drive undertaken around the Vile Parle station, the BMC’s K (east) ward pulled down several illegal structures around the railway station and the roads leading to it, on Wednesday afternoon.

This action displaced about 38 hawkers from the area, who were selling street food. Areas around several railway stations in the western suburbs including the Andheri train station, the Vile Parle station, and the Santa Cruz station have several eateries and make-shift outlets lined along arterial roads and other narrow by-lanes.

As part of Wednesday’s drive, the K (east) ward demolished 38 roadside eateries and 55 other illegal extensions of shops. Sources from the BMC said, “Many shops prop up tin sheds or create canopies with blue plastic sheets propped on bamboo sticks or iron rods. These encroachments are built ahead of the shop’s main shutters and occupy public space on roads and footpaths.” The demolition action carried out on Wednesday was part of a joint encroachment removal plan by the maintenance department and the licence department. It was carried out at Nehru Road, Hanuman Road, Subhash Road, Shradhanand Road, V.S. Khandekar Road, M.G. Road, and Mungi Bhai Road, which all come under the within the ward. The drive was headed by Devendra Kumar, Assistant Commissioner of K (east) ward along with labourers from the licence department.

A civic official from the BMC said, “The demolitions were carried out especially for the safety of pedestrians, who have been walking on the street in these areas due to the congestion on footpaths. This has helped clear the footpath in many places and made access to the street for pedestrians easier.”