India, April 15 -- The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has intensified a citywide anti-encroachment drive, removing over 2,500 unauthorised hawkers in April so far, as part of a renewed push to reclaim pedestrian spaces.

The crackdown follows recent observations by the Bombay High Court, which criticised delays in implementing hawker regulation and underscored pedestrians' right to unobstructed footpaths. Civic teams have since launched round-the-clock operations across key nodes such as Vashi, Nerul, Airoli and Belapur, focusing on congested railway station areas.

Officials said they adopted continuous, multi-shift enforcement after vendors began returning during evening hours to evade action. Joint ward teams have also been d...