Encroachments on footpaths being cleared in Bengaluru on Friday (July 3). Photo: X/@GBA_office
'Safe Footpath Campaign' in Bengaluru: 202.7 km of encroachments cleared in 3 days
Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda also reviewed the progress of the campaign and reiterated that the campaign currently covers only around 20 per cent of Bengaluru’s arterial and sub-arterial road network
The 'Safe Footpath Campaign', launched to provide Bengaluru's pedestrians with unobstructed and safe walkways, is gathering pace across the city.
The large-scale encroachment clearance drive, which began on July 1 on major arterial and sub-arterial roads under the jurisdiction of the five city corporations within the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), has made significant progress. In just three days, a total of 202.7 km of footpaths have been cleared of encroachments.
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The joint drive is being carried out by civic officials with police protection, following strict directions from Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda. On the first day of the operation, July 1, officials carried out an intensive drive, clearing a total of 76.55 km of footpaths across all five city corporations.
202.7 km freed from encroachments
On the first day, 16.35 km of footpaths were cleared in the Central City Corporation, 13.25 km in the East City Corporation, 12.85 km in the North City Corporation, 11.00 km in the South City Corporation, and 23.10 km in the West City Corporation.
On Thursday (July 2), another 64.55 km of footpaths were reclaimed. On Friday (July 3), the third day of the drive, officials cleared 61.60 km. With this, a total of 202.7 km of footpaths have been freed from encroachments in three days, officials said.
Relocation, not eviction
The minister also reviewed the progress of the 'Safe Footpath Campaign' and reiterated that the campaign currently covers only around 20 per cent of Bengaluru’s arterial and sub-arterial road network, where pedestrian movement is the highest, while commercial activity and street vending may continue on the remaining roads in accordance with the law.
Emphasising that pedestrian safety remains the government’s foremost priority, he noted that hundreds of pedestrians lose their lives in road accidents every year after being forced onto carriageways because footpaths are blocked or unusable.
Responding to strong opposition from street vendors to the footpath clearance drive, Minister Gowda clarified, "We are not taking away anyone's livelihood. Street vendors are being relocated from the main arterial roads to ward roads; they are not being evicted. The Supreme Court has also directed that there should be no obstruction to the free movement of citizens," he said.
Removing abandoned vehicles
“The objective is not to affect livelihoods but to ensure that every citizen can walk safely. Public safety and public rights must remain paramount,” he added.
The minister said that the initiative is being implemented in accordance with the directions of the Supreme Court and reflects the unanimous view expressed by elected representatives across political parties that Bengaluru’s busiest roads must provide safe and obstruction-free pedestrian movement.
Gowda said improving Bengaluru requires both institutional reforms and collective civic responsibility.
Officials added that work on constructing high-quality footpaths at the cleared locations will begin immediately in the coming days. They also said that the process of removing abandoned vehicles parked along roadsides will commence from July 10.
(This article was originally published in The Federal Karnataka)