Bengaluru footpaths: Repeat encroachers to face FIRs, seizure and higher penalties

Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda orders joint police-civic task forces, surprise inspections and geo-tagged monitoring to prevent cleared footpaths from being occupied again. Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda has directed officials to take strict action against people who re-encroach on footpaths after they have already been cleared, including registering FIRs, seizing materials used for encroachment and imposing higher penalties under the rules. The Minister issued the directions during a virtual meeting on Friday to review the ongoing issue of footpath encroachments across Bengaluru. He made it clear that removing an encroachment once will not solve the problem unless the same location is monitored continuously. As part of the new approach, joint task forces comprising police and civic officials will be formed in each of the five city corporation jurisdictions. These teams will be responsible for keeping a regular watch on cleared stretches and carrying out enforcement together whenever fresh encroachments are detected. Also Read: CM D.K. Shivakumar launches Praja Seva Department in Karnataka to fast-track public grievances Gowda directed officials to introduce both routine and surprise inspections of cleared footpaths. Marshals and beat police personnel will have to work together during these checks so that any return of encroachments can be identified quickly. Officials have also been asked to document such violations using photographs and geo-tagged evidence. This is intended to create a clear record of where re-encroachments occur and help authorities take action without delay. The Minister stressed that repeat violations should be treated more seriously. According to his directions, FIRs should be registered against repeat offenders, the materials used to occupy or block the footpath should be seized and higher penalties should be imposed wherever the law permits. He also instructed the civic administration to clearly assign responsibility for monitoring individual locations and enforcement. A system must be established to regularly review the action taken, track progress and submit reports on the status of cleared footpaths. The focus will not be limited to footpaths. Gowda has also asked officials to prepare a clear road-wise list of locations where street vending is restricted or prohibited. The concerned police and civic authorities must be formally informed about these restrictions so that enforcement can be coordinated. Particular attention has been sought on major and high-traffic roads. The Minister said measures must be taken to ensure that street vending or other activities do not obstruct either pedestrians or vehicles, with smooth public movement to be treated as a priority. Also Read: Karnataka police personnel put 17 key demands before Home Minister Priyank Kharge At the same time, the government plans to conduct a fresh and comprehensive survey of street vendors across the city. Once the survey is completed, further action will be taken based on the eligibility of vendors and the applicable legal provisions. Officials have also been told to complete pending statutory procedures relating to street vending, including the constitution of Town Vending Committees as required under the law. To bring all these measures under one coordinated system, Gowda has directed that a joint order or circular be issued at the level of the Chief Commissioners. The order is expected to cover coordination between police and civic agencies, formation of the joint task forces, identification of restricted and prohibited vending areas on a road-wise basis, detection of re-encroachments and legal action against violators. The government’s approach is therefore aimed not only at clearing existing footpath encroachments but also at preventing the same locations from being occupied again. Continuous surveillance, coordinated enforcement and clear responsibility among officials will form the key parts of the proposed system.