India, Aug. 4 -- The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has launched a citywide campaign, titled Pedestrian First, to remove encroachments and make footpaths safe and obstacle-free. Ward officers have been asked to roll out the drive immediately. 320 kilometers of footpaths will be cleared in the first phase.

Underscoring the importance of the drive, on Monday BMC commissioner Ashwini Bhide said that since nearly 50% of daily trips by Mumbaikars are made on foot, officials should make the task a top priority.

Under the campaign, unauthorized hawkers, construction material, debris, abandoned or improperly parked vehicles, garbage heaps and other obstructions on footpaths will be removed. The drive will focus on areas with heavy ped...