State home minister RR Patil on Friday directed the police commissionerate to undertake a joint drive with the municipal corporation and remove hawkers from railway bridges after they resurfaced on the foot over bridge (FOB) at Dadar station. 

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According to him, hawkers are not only causing a security threat, but are also causing nuisance to women commuters.

Patil, who spoke to civic chief Sitaram Kunte and joint commissioner of police (law and order) Sadanand Date on Friday, was keen to ensure that there are no hawkers on railway bridges and subways.

Patil had received complaints from women and other commuters about the difficulty they face when he visited Dadar FOB in April. The minister was apprised about the obscene comments they face from hawkers.

Though there were no hawkers on the Dadar FOB for six months, they have slowly made a return.

According to officials from the home ministry, local leaders of some political parties and actors from the Marathi film industry were putting pressure on the home minister to permit hawkers on the Dadar FOB. This has led to a lenient approach by the police and civic officials.

Patil received fresh complaints from commuters on Friday about hawkers returning to the bridge. He then spoke to Kunte and assured him adequate police protection needed for the task.