Mayor Nandu Satam announced the crackdown after a meeting with representatives of three hawkers' union today. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation will target nine stations for the first phase of the eviction campaign with police security. The stations are Churchgate, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Bandra, Andheri, Jogeshwari, Borivali, Ghatkopar, Bhandup and Mulund. However, Dadar which is the most crowded station has been left out. Satam added that gradually all railway stations will be included in the campaign.

"We want to provide justice to the tax paying citizens of Mumbai," he stressed adding that those hawkers listed by the BMC would be allowed to do business in the city. When the union representatives urged him to stall the decision till the hawking zones were formed, he informed that the oldest hawker will be allotted the first stall after the 250 mtrs mark followed by others."But we will not sympathise with those who have started their business recently if there is a shortage of space," he stressed.

The hawkers' union leaders walked out of the meeting protesting the decision on eviction. However, the leader of the largest union Sharad Rao stayed out of the meeting.

Refusing to acknowledge Rao's absence, the Mayor said, "We are not going to invite unions for talks." Satam said the corporation will not bow down to union or political pressure.