India, March 27 -- The Bombay high court on Wednesday ordered as many as 170 unlicensed hawkers to vacate from Colaba Causeway, bringing a major relief to the bustling south Mumbai street's residents, who have been fighting to keep their pavements free for pedestrians.

The order came after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) informed the court that there were only 83 licensed hawkers in the area, as opposed to the 253 claimed by the Colaba Causeway Tourism Hawkers Stall Union (CCTHSU).

The court asked the civic body to file an affidavit on the same and agreed to the CCTHSU's request to give the unlicensed hawkers time till Monday to vacate.

The high court's decision came after the Clean Heritage Colaba Residents' Association (...