India, Aug. 16 -- The BMC has cleared around 68 km of footpaths across 81 stretches in the first 14 days of its 'Pedestrian First' campaign as it intensifies its drive against encroachments and other obstructions that force pedestrians onto roads. The campaign aims to create safe, continuous and obstruction-free pedestrian pathways.

In the first phase, the BMC has identified 200 footpaths for action, with work having commenced on 81. Between August 1 and 14, the civic body carried out 337 eviction drives, including the demolition of 77 unauthorised structures and removal of 112 illegal hawkers. It also removed 49 units of street furniture, 63 units of storage materials, 27 shop boards, 14 signboards and 49 banners from footpaths. Eight f...