Bengaluru: Karnataka’s footpath clearance drive is aimed at reclaiming pedestrian spaces without affecting the livelihoods of street vendors, Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said on Thursday.
Reviewing the ongoing Safe Footpath Campaign during a virtual meeting with officials, the minister clarified that encroachment removal is being carried out only on around 20 per cent of the city’s major arterial and sub-arterial roads. Business activities will continue to be permitted on the remaining 80 per cent of roads.
Drive focused on pedestrian safety
The clarification comes amid protests from street vendors, who have expressed concerns over the impact of the campaign on their livelihoods.
Byre Gowda said the objective of the drive is to ensure pedestrians have safe and obstruction-free footpaths on Bengaluru’s busiest roads while balancing the interests of vendors who depend on street trade for their income.
He stressed that the campaign is not intended to remove vendors indiscriminately but to eliminate encroachments that hinder pedestrian movement on key roads.
Livelihoods will be protected
The minister assured that the government recognises the importance of street vending and is committed to protecting livelihoods while implementing the campaign.
He said vending activities would continue to be allowed on the majority of roads across the city, with enforcement primarily focused on heavily trafficked corridors where pedestrian safety is a priority.
Officials were instructed to ensure the drive is carried out in accordance with the law and in a transparent manner.
Campaign continues across Bengaluru
The Safe Footpath Campaign was launched earlier this week to remove illegal encroachments from footpaths, including temporary stalls, advertising boards, extended staircases and other structures blocking public walkways.
The campaign has drawn mixed reactions, with civic authorities maintaining that reclaiming footpaths is essential for public safety, while several vendors have sought designated vending zones before any eviction is undertaken.
The government has reiterated that the initiative aims to strike a balance between ensuring accessible public spaces and safeguarding the livelihoods of thousands of street vendors across Bengaluru.