Shop owners, advertisers, vehicle owners and anyone encroaching on Bengaluru’s footpaths have until July 1 to clear them or face demolition drives, penalties and, if necessary, JCB action, Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said.
Gowda announced a city-wide footpath repair campaign worth nearly Rs 70 crore, along with a major footpath makeover.
The move comes after the Supreme Court recently observed that walking on footpaths is a fundamental right. Citing the order, the minister said all encroachments on pavements must be removed voluntarily before July 1.
“If you clear them yourself, it is good. Otherwise, when we come with JCBs, don’t blame us. We are requesting you because this is a Supreme Court direction and we have to implement
it,” he said.
“Footpaths, walking lanes and public pedestrian spaces are a fundamental right, as recognised by the Supreme Court. Thousands of people travel on foot every day. Encroachments by shops and commercial establishments must be cleared,” he said after chairing a review meeting on footpaths and encroachments.
Giving encroachers a week’s time, the minister appealed to them to remove the encroachments voluntarily.
He warned that from July 1, civic authorities would begin demolition drives and impose penalties on violators.
“From July 1, we will begin enforcement and impose double penalties. Footpath encroachments will not be accepted or tolerated. Even putting up an advertisement board on a footpath to promote your business is illegal,” he said.
Calling footpaths the property of the city’s residents, Gowda said, “Do your business and earn your livelihood, but do not do so by encroaching on footpaths. Footpaths are public property belonging to 1.5 crore people. Give them the respect they deserve.”
The minister said Bengaluru records nearly 1,000 road accident deaths every year and around 30% of those killed are pedestrians.
“Thousands die because of the lack of proper footpaths and pedestrian infrastructure. There is a need to address this. Let people walk freely on footpaths,” he said.
As part of the Safe Footpath Campaign, nearly Rs 70 crore will be spent on repairing around 2,000 km of footpaths across the city’s five civic zones. The work will include replacing damaged slabs and kerb stones and fixing uneven footpath levels.
Gowda also announced a drive against abandoned vehicles occupying roads and footpaths. Notices will be issued first, after which the vehicles will be removed and auctioned if owners fail to claim them.
“Roads and footpaths are not places to keep abandoned vehicles. Where people need to walk, these vehicles become a barrier. We will not allow that,” he said.
On potholes, the minister admitted that people had complained about the quality of repairs and directed officials to adopt scientific methods instead of temporary patchwork.
“Wherever there is pothole filling, the road must first be cut in a box shape, jelly stones must be laid and then tar should be applied. The patchwork must be level with the road surface,” he said.
He added that road repairs would gradually shift to mechanised methods.
“Machines for cutting, laying jelly, tarring and finishing the road surface are available. I have asked officials to use machines instead of doing the work manually,” he said.
Priority, he said, would be given to roads near junctions and traffic signals. He also instructed the Traffic Police to ensure buses do not stop within 85 metres of a signal, saying buses waiting close to junctions slow down traffic even after the light turns green.
Acknowledging that the enforcement drive may invite criticism, Gowda said he was prepared for the backlash.
“I may become less popular. I am ready for that. We want to make Bengaluru better. It’s for the greater good,” he said.
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