The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) conducted a demolition drive on March 6, 2025, against 52 unauthorised shops in the Matunga Railway Station and Bhandarkar Road flower market area under the jurisdiction of the F (North) Ward. Encroachments had left pedestrians with no space to walk on the footpath.
According to BMC, it was observed that footpaths and roads in the Matunga Railway Station and Bhandarkar Road flower market area were encroached upon with unauthorized structures. In response, the F (North) Ward initiated the eviction campaign.
As part of this drive, 22 unauthorised shops and 30 encroached shops spread across approximately 300 meters were removed. Action was also taken against unauthorized street vendors in the area.
The operation was conducted under the guidance of Deputy Commissioner (Zone-2) Prashant Sapkale and Assistant Commissioner of F (North) Ward, Nitin Shukla. For this operation, around 105 personnel were deployed, along with 2 JCB machines, 6 dumpers, and 2 additional vehicles. Adequate police security was also arranged.