After conducting a week-long anti-encroachment drive last month, Kulgaon Badlapur Municipal Council Chief Officer Maruti Gaikwad has once again taken a firm stance against illegal encroachments.

In a first-of-its-kind move, the Municipal Council has extended its operation to the evening hours, starting Monday, and will continue this action for a week. Gaikwad’s proactive approach has earned him praise from various quarters.

The anti-encroachment squad launched its evening operation at 6:30 PM in both Badlapur East and West, targeting illegal food stalls, ice cream carts, and other unauthorised setups obstructing public spaces.

The drive continued till 8:30 p.m., with JCBs deployed in key commercial areas such as the market near the railway station and the bustling food alley in Badlapur West. Chief Officer Maruti Gaikwad personally oversaw the operation, accompanied by officials from the Health, General Administration, and Tax Departments, among others.

Over the past month, Gaikwad has been carrying out crackdowns to clear encroachments in the municipal area. During the initial phase, hundreds of illegal structures, including stalls and makeshift sheds, were demolished.

However, as vendors often return in the evening after morning actions, Gaikwad had announced plans to introduce night-time enforcement. Monday’s operation marked the beginning of this strategy.

Unaware of the evening drive, food vendors and hawkers had set up stalls as usual in Badlapur West Market and Khau Galli. The sudden arrival of the demolition squad led to chaos, with several iron and steel stalls being razed on the spot.

Panicked vendors hastily removed their stalls, while shopkeepers scrambled to clear goods, signboards, and other items encroaching on sidewalks and roads.

“The anti-encroachment drive will continue in the evenings for another week, focusing on keeping the station area and main roads free from illegal encroachments,” said Maruti Gaikwad, Chief Officer of Kulgaon Badlapur Municipal Council.

Recognising Gaikwad’s efforts, Mahavikas Aghadi leaders, including NCP’s state general secretary Avinash Deshmukh and Shiv Sena (Thackeray faction) city chief Kishore Patil and Babu Palande presented him with a replica of a JCB, symbolising their appreciation for the strong enforcement of anti-encroachment measures.