Minister Gowda orders drive to clear footpath encroachments across Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Jun 29 (PTI) Karnataka Minister Krishna Byre Gowda on Monday directed officials to prepare a comprehensive plan and launch a drive to clear encroachments from footpaths across the five city corporations under the Greater Bengaluru Authority.

Addressing a virtual meeting convened to discuss the launch of the ‘safe footpath campaign’ from July 1 across the five city corporations, Gowda said the encroachment clearance drive must be carried out in accordance with Supreme Court orders and the provisions of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act.

The Greater Bengaluru development minister instructed officials to undertake the drive only after adequate planning and necessary preparations.

According

to a statement issued by the minister’s office, Gowda directed officials to first prepare a list of roads where the drive would begin, followed by awareness campaigns for shop owners and the public.

He said notices should be issued before action is taken in accordance with the law.

The minister instructed officials to coordinate with municipal authorities, health officials responsible for issuing trade licences, police personnel providing security and encroachment clearance teams to ensure the effective implementation of the drive.

Further, he directed officials to initiate the process of notifying arterial, sub-arterial and other major roads as non-vending zones.

Gowda said Bengaluru has around 15,000 km of roads, of which about 1,500 km should be identified as non-vending zones.

On the remaining roads, street vendors should be allowed to carry out business in a manner that does not inconvenience the public, he said.

The minister said street vendors were free to earn their livelihood in the city.

Except on roads notified as non-vending zones by the municipal corporations, they could carry out business on other roads, provided it did not inconvenience the public, he said.

In addition, he directed officials to conduct extensive public awareness campaigns ahead of the footpath encroachment clearance drive.

“Awareness programmes should be held in advance on the roads where the drive is planned,” Gowda said.

During these campaigns, people should be informed that if encroachments are not removed voluntarily, the municipal corporation will clear them and impose penalties in accordance with the law, he said.

The minister instructed that repairs to footpaths should be taken up simultaneously wherever encroachment clearance is carried out.

“Priority should be given to ensuring safe and convenient movement for pedestrians, with damaged slabs, kerbs and other civil works repaired without delay,” he added. PTI AMP SSK