The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) on Thursday said it has removed 430 km of encroachments on footpaths in Bengaluru between July 1 and 8 as part of its ongoing drive to reclaim pedestrian spaces, while assuring street vendors that they will be issued new identity cards and supported in relocating their businesses.
According to a post by GBA on
Emphasizing that pedestrian safety remains the government’s top priority, the GBA said in the post that there would be “no compromise” on keeping footpaths free for public use.
“The government will always stand with the poor. Our aim is for street vendors in Bengaluru to continue earning their livelihood. At the same time, we adhere to the Supreme Court’s directions to remove all encroachments on footpaths,” the post read.
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Reclamation of 430 kilometers of pedestrian paths
The GBA said 430 km of encroachments have been removed across the city as of Wednesday, adding that the process will continue on an ongoing basis.
Seeking cooperation of vendors, GBA said they need not operate from footpaths along Bengaluru’s 1,500-km arterial roads, as pedestrian movement should remain unobstructed. Instead, it said there is ample scope for sale on the remaining 80 to 90 per cent of district roads, for which the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will provide full support.
The post also clarified that the campaign is not limited to street vendors. The authorities are removing all forms of encroachments on footpaths, including shop extensions, convenience stores, push carts, canopies, ladders, ramps, barriers, notice boards, banners, and temporary and permanent sheds.
According to the GBA, in the next phase, the government will also remove other obstacles on pedestrian walkways, including illegal parking lots and gardens, to ensure continuous and accessible walkways throughout the city.
Addressing the concerns raised by vendors, the GBA said the government would implement the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihoods and Regulation of Street Vending) Act and adhere to the Supreme Court’s directions regarding protection of vendors’ rights.
Street vendors ID cards?
The circular also said that the Supreme Court had directed authorities to issue new identity cards to eligible street vendors, and that officials had been directed to expedite their distribution.
“The government stands with the poor, but pedestrian paths must remain accessible. We will follow the directions of the Supreme Court and the law governing street vendors,” the post read.
Former Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Gowda, BBMP Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao, Law Department Head Chandrashekar Patel, Assistant Commissioner Murali and representatives of various hawker associations were present in the meeting.
