Mumbai: The Brihanamumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will set up night vigilance squads to deal with illegal hawkers who operate in the evenings and at night.
Unlike the Removal of Encroachment (RE) officers, who usually work during the day, the 192 night squad officers will work till 11:30 p.m. The 24 night vigilance squads — one for every ward — will consist of eight people each, and will be given a vehicle and mobile phones to coordinate the exercise.
The night squad members will coordinate with the assistant municipal commissioners, deputy municipal commissioners and ward officers. The BMC has also requested assistance from the Mumbai police, according to a special circular released by Abasaheb Jarhad, Additional Municipal Commissioner (City).
The squads will prioritise areas based on complaints made to the BMC’s helpline, with a special focus on market areas and railway station premises. The 24 wards will be divided into seven zones, and every Thursday, the squads will take action at undisclosed locations.
“The squads can also file FIRs against illegal food vendors if they are found in possession of gas cylinders or using kerosene illegally,” said Ranjit Dhakane, Deputy Municipal Commissioner. Officers said most of the complaints the disaster management cell receives concern market areas like Dadar, Fashion Street and major railway stations, such as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Churchgate.
