Bengaluru: Pedestrians welcome Shivajinagar footpath clearance despite attack

BENGALURU: A footpath clearance drive in the heart of Shivajinagar has drawn appreciation from pedestrians, even as municipal enforcement staff faced an attack while carrying out the operation. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) resumed its push to reclaim pedestrian space along busy commercial stretches, a move that has been long awaited by local residents and daily commuters.

Encroachments cleared, but not without resistance

Teams from the BBMP’s anti-encroachment cell moved into Shivajinagar on Tuesday morning to remove illegal structures, parked vehicles, and makeshift stalls that had narrowed footpaths to barely a foot in some places. Officials said the drive covered key stretches near the Shivajinagar bus stand and surrounding market areas.

However, the operation was not smooth. A group of unidentified persons attacked the enforcement staff, pelting stones and hurling abuse. BBMP marshals had to call for additional police support to control the situation. No serious injuries were reported, but the incident underscored the friction between street vendors and the civic body.

Pedestrians relieved after years of obstruction

Despite the attack, many pedestrians told reporters that the clearance was long overdue. For years, walking on these footpaths meant navigating around parked two-wheelers, stacked goods, and hawkers who had set up permanent stalls. “I used to walk on the road just to get past this stretch. Now I can actually use the footpath,” said Mahesh, a daily commuter who works at a nearby electronics shop.

Another resident, a woman who lives above a commercial complex on the same road, said the situation had become dangerous for the elderly and children. “We are happy to see the space back. Let’s see how long it lasts,” she added cautiously.

BBMP vows to maintain reclaimed space

A senior BBMP official said the drive would continue in other parts of the ward and that efforts would be made to prevent re-encroachment. “We are deploying marshals for regular patrols. If people see space being used freely again, they will support us,” the official said, requesting anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media.

The official also confirmed that a complaint has been filed with the local police regarding the attack on the enforcement team. Police have registered a case and are scanning CCTV footage from nearby shops to identify the attackers.

Vendors say they were not given alternative space

Not everyone is celebrating. Some street vendors who were removed from the footpath said they had been plying their trade there for years. They claimed they were not offered any alternative vending zone before the eviction. “Where do we go now? We have no other place to sell,” one vendor said, declining to give his name.

BBMP officials countered that designated hawking zones exist in the area but are often ignored. They said repeat offenders would face stricter action.

The Shivajinagar footpath clearance comes amid a broader push by the civic body to improve pedestrian infrastructure across Bengaluru. Several similar drives have been met with mixed results, with footpaths often getting re-encroached within weeks.

What happens next will depend on sustained enforcement and whether the civic body can offer viable alternatives to those displaced. The police investigation into Tuesday’s attack will also determine if the clearance can proceed without further violence.