Frazer Town residents demand long term GBA plan to clear Standage Road encroachments

Residents of Standage Road in Frazer Town are calling on the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) to implement a comprehensive, long-term plan to address persistent footpath encroachments, illegal vending, and anti-social behavior, as the authority's ongoing citywide clearance drive fails to provide lasting relief.

Local residents reported that a roadside vendor selling loose cigarettes at the entrance of a residential lane on Standage Road has become a regular gathering point for groups of young men. These individuals park their two-wheelers, smoke, use abusive language, and block access to homes, leaving local families feeling unsafe.

The situation has severely impacted the livability of the neighborhood, particularly for women and children who now hesitate to step out after 7 PM. Residents noted that children can no longer cycle in the lane, and women have stopped taking evening walks due to the discomfort and nuisance caused by the nightly gatherings.

According to a local resident, the cigarette vendor temporarily shut down the stall during a recent GBA footpath clearance drive, only to resume business on the footpath as soon as the officials left. Despite repeatedly approaching the police regarding the sale of loose cigarettes, lane obstruction, and harassment, as well as informing the landlord about the encroachment, residents claim no permanent action has been taken.

Similar civic issues have been reported nearby on Promenade Road. The Society of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Tarbes, which runs Tarbes Nivas, recently submitted a representation to the Fraser Town Residents’ Welfare Association (FTRWA). The institution complained that the footpath adjoining its premises has turned into a public urinal over the past few years, creating an unbearable stench and health hazard.

The representation also highlighted that vehicles parked along the Promenade Road footpath provide cover for people to relieve themselves in public, while an old, abandoned GBA vehicle obstructs pedestrian movement. The institution has requested the installation of streetlights, noting that poor lighting makes it difficult and unsafe for senior citizens to walk in the area after dark.

While residents demand stricter monitoring to keep footpaths clear, street vendors across Bengaluru have announced plans to stage a protest at Freedom Park on Wednesday. Organized by the Joint Action Committee of Street Vendors, the demonstration will protest the ongoing eviction drives, which representatives argue deprive nearly 1.5 lakh vendors of their right to livelihood.