Bengaluru launches drive to clear footpaths across 2,000 kilometres of roads
On Wednesday, civic corporations in Bengaluru launched a major footpath clearance drive to reclaim pedestrian walkways across 2,000 kilometres of high-traffic roads. Led by Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, the initiative aims to enforce Supreme Court directions on pedestrian safety and reduce the estimated 300 pedestrian deaths that occur in the city every year.
The first phase of the drive prioritises roads with heavy pedestrian traffic, representing less than 20 per cent of Bengaluru's estimated 14,000 to 15,000 kilometres of total road network. The campaign is a coordinated effort involving the commissioners of the city's five civic corporations, the police, and other government departments.
According to Minister Gowda, the drive was initiated to address the fundamental right of pedestrians to walk safely, as directed by the Supreme Court. He noted that the government decided to take up the exercise now because the Supreme Court has issued clear directions to governments to ensure that footpaths are available and accessible to the public.
The minister highlighted that the government regularly receives complaints from citizens who find it difficult to walk on footpaths because they are blocked. When footpaths are blocked, pedestrians are forced to walk on the carriageway, exposing them to moving traffic. Gowda stated that many of the nearly 300 annual pedestrian deaths in Bengaluru occur because people have no safe space to walk.
The clearance drive has triggered mixed reactions, particularly from local shopkeepers who express concern that the enforcement will harm their livelihoods. Addressing these concerns, Gowda clarified that the government is not opposing local businesses, provided they operate within the boundaries of their shops.
Gowda stated that footpaths are public property and using them to conduct business or for parking is against the law. He appealed to shop owners to voluntarily remove encroachments and cooperate with the authorities to avoid confrontations.
The minister emphasised that preventing these annual tragedies is a moral responsibility for the government. He urged citizens, traders, and all stakeholders to cooperate in making the city's roads safer for everyone.
