In a significant urban cleanup drive, Karnataka Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar declared on Friday that street vending stands banned on Bengaluru’s primary and secondary roads. The decision, part of a pedestrian-friendly footpath overhaul, seeks to end the chaos caused by roadside encroachments plaguing the Silicon Valley of India.
Post-budget deliberations for GBA bodies and executive sessions at Vidhana Soudha, Shivakumar addressed the press. Holding the Bengaluru Development reins, he outlined the anti-encroachment strategy: ‘We’re crafting a robust footpath policy to secure safe walkways for citizens.’ Current vendor dominance on pavements has forced walkers onto roads, exacerbating safety risks.
Action against long-standing abandoned vehicles is imminent. Police will tow them to earmarked yards including Bellahalli and others, expanding as needed. Corporations get equipped with two tow trucks each for swift removal from no-parking areas.
Vendors aren’t sidelined—designated vending zones are in the works, with cross-party MLA consensus. Of 60,000 registered hawkers, 30,000 seek vending vehicles; tenders are out. Valid IDs mandatory; violators beware. Carts left overnight? Expect impounding.
Flex banners, a visual blight, face Rs 50,000-1 lakh penalties. Despite repeated advisories, event-related hoardings persist. Official ad spots demand approvals. Park schedules? MLA consultations ahead.
Ward fund pleas of Rs 5-10 crore? ‘Unrealistic,’ says Shivakumar, calling for reviews. On Davangere bypoll nomination buzz, he’s awaiting facts.
Bengaluru’s transformation gathers pace, promising cleaner streets and empowered pedestrians in this vendor-relocated urban renaissance.