Residents of Kharghar are raising serious concerns over the unchecked encroachments and unauthorized shops in Sectors 30 to 40, leading to significant inconvenience and safety issues for the local population. Photographs shared by concerned locals highlight the proliferation of illegal setups, including roadside shops selling clothes, makeshift stalls selling fruits and coconuts, and snack stalls taking over footpaths and parking spaces.

One image shows a clothing shop operating out of the back of a car, with jeans and shirts hung from the open boot. Another photo captures a cluster of coconut vendors blocking a busy intersection, while a third depicts a snack stall covered with plastic sheets, selling a variety of packaged snacks and biscuits. These encroachments have led to restricted pedestrian pathways and a shortage of parking spaces, particularly under the newly constructed metro bridge.

Residents are frustrated by the growing number of unauthorized establishments that are disrupting the local infrastructure. “Why should we have to deal with these issues when we are already paying taxes? These services are not needed here, and they create chaos and hazards for pedestrians,” said Radhe Trivedi, a concerned local.

Arvind Pawar, another resident, mentioned that previous appeals to the Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC) and CIDCO have yielded little action. “There is a growing demand for stricter enforcement of regulations to remove these encroachments, as well as illegal hawkers, and restore order to the neighbourhoods.”

Citizens have turned to social media to bring attention to the encroachment issue, tagging local government officials and departments, including the Chief Minister's Office of Maharashtra and MLA Prashant Thakur, urging quick intervention.

“We need long-term solutions to prevent the recurrence of unauthorized commercial activities, which not only obstruct pathways but also undermine the planned urban development of the area,” said Lalita Iyer, another resident.

With growing concern over the encroachment activities, local residents are demanding for more stringent measures to ensure that Kharghar's urban planning is not compromised, and public spaces are returned to their intended use.