GBA footpath clearance in Cooke Town damages shop signs and sparks outrage
An anti-encroachment drive under the "Safe Footpath" campaign by the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has sparked outrage among shop owners and residents in Cooke Town, Bengaluru, after civic officials demolished and damaged commercial fixtures such as name boards and awnings. The drive, which took place on Hutchins Road without prior warning, has left local businesses counting financial losses.
Traders and activists accused GBA engineers and workers of using heavy-handed enforcement tactics during the clearance. According to local shop owners, the authorities used an earth-moving machine to tear down awnings and name boards that were fixed to the exterior walls of their shops, rather than allowing owners the opportunity to dismantle them safely.
One anonymous shop owner expressed confusion over the logic of the drive, questioning how a name board fixed to an exterior wall could pose a hazard to pedestrians. The trader stated that they now face a replacement bill of approximately Rs 30,000 to install a new sign. Another business owner lamented the destruction of an awning, which had been installed on their exterior wall to provide shade and shelter during the monsoon.
Som Thomas, a resident of nearby St Thomas Town, reported that GBA staff forcibly removed awning material from a shop on Hutchins Road on July 9. Thomas alleged that the workers refused to let the owners retrieve their property and did not issue any receipts for the confiscated items. He further noted that while name boards were targeted, an actual pavement obstruction just 100 feet away on Hutchins Main Road was demolished but left uncleared, prompting him to file a Sahaaya complaint.
In response to the allegations, a BCCC Assistant Engineer denied that GBA staff had taken away any materials removed during the drive. The engineer explained that workers intentionally damage equipment and name boards found on the footpath to prevent shop owners from reinstalling them. The official dismissed the accusations of theft as baseless, arguing that it was unfair to make such allegations against the clearance staff.
