Mysuru: Street vendors have reportedly returned to business along Sayyaji Rao Road and near K.R. Circle in Mysuru, shortly after the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) cleared encroachments as part of its ‘Operation Footpath’.
Encroachments cleared after Supreme Court directions
The MCC had carried out an eviction drive on both sides of Sayyaji Rao Road and near K.R. Circle following directions from the Supreme Court.
The action was aimed at clearing footpaths and ensuring that pedestrians could use the designated walking spaces without obstruction.
However, according to the report, several street vendors have returned to the same areas and resumed their businesses.
Alleged political support
Sources cited by Star of Mysore claimed that some vendors had political support, which allegedly created difficulties for officials during the eviction drive.
The reported return of vendors has raised questions about the effectiveness of repeated encroachment clearance drives and whether cleared footpaths can be kept free of encroachments.
Focus on pedestrian access
The issue highlights the challenge faced by civic authorities in balancing the livelihood concerns of street vendors with the need to maintain clear and safe pedestrian spaces.
With vendors reportedly returning soon after the MCC’s action, further steps by the civic body and other authorities may determine whether the cleared stretches remain accessible to pedestrians.