Mumbai: Illegal stalls on Bandra’s Linking Road razed

Mumbai city news: The BMC razed 15 stalls on Bandra’s Linking Road, for illegally occupying parts of footpaths or streets.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) razed 15 stalls on Bandra’s Linking Road, for illegally occupying parts of footpaths or streets.

BMC workers take down street shops on Linking Road. (Shashi S Kashyap/HT PHOTO)

According to a ward official, around 12 of the illegal stalls that were demolished were opposite Crystal Mall.

“Notices were sent to them months ago,” said the official.

They were all selling clothes or bags,” the ward official added.

READ: BMC razes illegal sheds at two more Andheri eateries

The action is part of a BMC drive against establishments setting up sheds and stalls that encroach onto public space — meant to be kept free and open for easy access by fire engines in case of an emergency.

The ward office said it had planned to demolish illegal extensions such as monsoon sheds above 17 other shops on the road.

But the official said most of the shop owners had stay orders from courts.

Officials were able to raze only two of these extensions on Thursday.

The ward office also took action against an establishment on the third floor of Kenilworth mall, which had taken over space without permission to build a kitchen and toilet.

Every monsoon, several establishments across Mumbai erect sheds without the civic body’s permission.

Last week, the BMC had demolished such extensions on the Juhu-Andheri stretch.

More demolition work is likely on Friday, the ward official said.