Annoyed with illegal hawkers on Mumbai’s streets? Use BMC’s new app to file a complaint

According to civic chief Ajoy Mehta, the app will be modelled along the lines of the pothole-tracking app, where complainants can also submit their location.

Irked by the illegal hawkers that congest the city’s streets? You might soon be able to use a mobile application to complain about them.

After 23 people lost their lives and 34 were left injured in the Elphinstone Road station stampede on September 29, the railways and civic body swung into action to clear the station premises of illegal hawkers. (Picture for representation)

Civic chief Ajoy Mehta has asked the information technology (IT) department to look into Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s (MNS) request of to create a WhatsApp number where citizens can complaint against hawkers, and prepare a plan.

According to Mehta, the number will be modelled along the lines of the pothole-tracking app, where complainants can also submit their location. “I have asked for the geo-tagging feature, as it gives authenticity to the complain. Our aim is to weed out fake complaints,” said Ajoy Mehta.

After 23 people lost their lives and 34 were left injured in the Elphinstone Road station stampede on September 29, the railways and civic body swung into action to clear the station premises of illegal hawkers.

The civic body has employed more people at the licence department, and allowed ward officers to hire vehicles to seize hawkers’ goods if the earnings from confiscation are 1.5 times the cost of hiring. So far, only two vehicles are available per ward.