Bengaluru: The Supreme Court’s recent observation that citizens have the right to walk safely on footpaths has intensified efforts to reclaim public walkways across Bengaluru. While the ongoing Safe Footpaths Campaign has been widely welcomed, urban planning experts say clearing encroachments alone will not create a truly walkable city.
The campaign, launched under the leadership of Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, has seen civic authorities removing illegal encroachments from footpaths across the city’s five municipal corporations.
Encroachment removal is only the beginning
Experts say restoring footpaths to pedestrians is an important first step but caution that lasting success depends on comprehensive urban planning.
They argue that continuous, obstruction-free footpaths require properly aligned driveways, uniform sidewalk levels and underground utility corridors to prevent repeated digging for cables and pipelines.
Without these supporting measures, they warn, newly cleared footpaths could soon become unusable again.
Better planning key to a walkable city
Urban planners believe that improving pedestrian infrastructure requires coordinated action from citizens, businesses and government agencies alike.
They point out that Bengaluru’s rapid population growth has outpaced infrastructure development, resulting in shortages of housing, public transport and civic amenities. These gaps, they say, often force residents and businesses to violate regulations due to a lack of practical alternatives.
Experts also note that many governance challenges stem from inadequate long-term planning rather than poor enforcement alone.
Stronger governance needed
According to urban planning experts, sustained adherence to planning regulations by both the government and the public is essential for creating a more liveable Bengaluru.
They warn that repeated regularisation of unauthorised developments weakens public confidence in planning laws and makes enforcement increasingly difficult.
The experts maintain that initiatives such as the Safe Footpaths Campaign can succeed only if they are followed by sustained maintenance, better coordination among civic agencies and long-term investments in pedestrian infrastructure.
They believe Bengaluru’s transformation into a pedestrian-friendly city will depend not just on removing encroachments but on ensuring that footpaths remain safe, continuous and accessible for all residents.