India, March 12 -- Days after a major anti-encroachment drive against illegal hawkers and shop extensions at the Lokhandwala Township in Kandivali East, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has now turned its focus to abandoned and illegally parked vehicles occupying road space in the area.

Acting on complaints from residents about vehicles lying unused on the streets for months-colloquially called khataras-the civic body's R-South ward, in coordination with the traffic police, cleared several such vehicles on Wednesday. Officials said the vehicles were removed after notices were pasted on them, giving owners 48 hours to claim them.

"The BMC has hired three contractors for dealing with abandoned vehicles in Mumbai-one each for t...