Bengaluru citizens clear encroached footpaths at railway underpass

Residents take charge of clogged underpass

Fed up with inaction from civic officials, residents of Jeevan Bima Nagar in Bengaluru rolled up their sleeves on Sunday morning. They cleared footpaths at a busy railway underpass that had become a dumping ground for debris, parked motorcycles, and construction material.

The underpass connects the neighbourhood to the main road. For months, commuters had to walk on the road, dodging traffic. Elderly residents and children struggled to pass. The footpath was virtually unusable.

What was blocking the path

Broken tiles, heaps of sand, and discarded furniture lined the walkway. Several two-wheelers were parked haphazardly, forcing pedestrians onto the vehicle lane. A local shopkeeper had also stacked sacks of cement on the footpath.

Residents said they had complained to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) multiple times. Each time, they received assurances but no action followed. The underpass remained a hazard, especially during peak hours.

Sunday morning clean-up drive

Around 30 residents gathered at 7 am on Sunday. Armed with brooms, shovels, and gloves, they began clearing the debris. They also requested vehicle owners to remove their bikes. Most complied.

The group segregated waste and called for a BBMP truck to haul it away. Within two hours, the footpath was walkable again. Residents placed small potted plants along the cleared stretch to discourage future dumping.

“We are tired of waiting for the authorities. If we want our streets clean, we have to do it ourselves,” said a resident who participated in the drive. Many echoed this sentiment.

Repeated pleas yielded no result

Local activists pointed out that the underpass had been a trouble spot for years. Illegal parking and encroachment were common. The BBMP had not deployed any enforcement staff to monitor the area regularly.

“We sent emails and filed complaints on the civic app. Nothing changed. This was the only way to get results,” another resident added. The group has now formed a neighbourhood committee to maintain the footpath.

What happens next

The residents plan to install signage warning against littering and parking. They will also approach the traffic police to ensure vehicles do not block the footpath again. The BBMP has not commented on the clean-up drive yet. For now, the underpass remains usable — a small victory for a neighbourhood that refused to wait.