The Bombay High Court on Tuesday directed notices to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Central Railway (CR), and the Vikroli police regarding a public interest litigation (PIL) that calls for decisive action against the encroachment of hawkers and illegal parking along the 60-foot DP Road east of Vikroli railway station.
The PIL, advocated by Vikroli residents Digamber Mungekar and Pursshotam Chury through their lawyers Gauraj Shah and Yatin Shah, demands that the authorities provide additional facilities at the station, including approach ramps, a foot overbridge, a ticket window, and automatic ticket vending machines on the station’s east side. These enhancements are aimed at improving accessibility and managing the station’s east entrance more effectively.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Bharati Dangre heard the plea, which highlights the ongoing issues on the access road to the station. This road, constructed as per earlier directives from the high court, now suffers from severe encroachments by hawkers, despite Central Railway’s efforts to clear them. The situation is further complicated by a 2016 high court order that protected the illegal occupants by promising them alternate transit accommodation—a directive the BMC has yet to fully implement.
The petition also criticizes the civic body for not installing adequate “No Parking” signs, contributing to worsening traffic jams due to unauthorized parking. Additionally, it points out the inactivity of the Vikroli police in tackling the issue of illegal hawkers, who continue to operate openly.
