MUMBAI, 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 municipal commissioner Ashwini Bhide said that since nearly 50% of daily trips by Mumbaikars are made on foot, officials should make the task their 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 pedestrian movement, including schools, hospitals, railway stations and markets. Bhide has instructed all ward officers to conduct daily inspections of footpaths and ensure anti-encroachment drives are implemented effectively. They have also been asked to prevent encroachments from recurring and submit daily progress reports with before-and-after photographs. Deputy commissioners will review the campaign weekly at the zonal level, while additional municipal commissioners will conduct reviews every 15 days. Any misstep by officers will invite punitive action, she said....