Indiranagar Residents Oppose Footpath Temple Construction on 80 Feet Road

Residents of Indiranagar have strongly opposed the construction of a temple on the footpath along 80 Feet Road near Sri Krishna Temple, raising concerns over pedestrian safety and the ongoing violation of public space regulations.

According to local residents, the new structure occupies the entire stretch of the walkway, leaving pedestrians with no choice but to step onto the busy roadway. Community members questioned the necessity of adding another shrine directly on the footpath when the prominent Sri Krishna Temple is already located in the immediate vicinity.

The Supreme Court banned the construction of temples and religious structures in public parks, streets, and other public spaces more than 15 years ago. Despite the judicial directive, residents, pedestrians, and social activists report that unauthorized structures continue to appear across footpaths in Bengaluru.

HM Venkatesh of Naija Horatagarara Vedike noted that small shrines are increasingly surfacing close to prominent temples across the city, questioning the enforcement of the Apex Court's directives by local authorities. Activists and residents maintain that blocking walkways creates hazards for pedestrians, exposing them to oncoming traffic and increasing the risk of accidents.

Similar complaints have emerged in neighbouring localities. In Halasuru, resident Naveen Kumar R pointed out that a shrine built on the walkway opposite the idol immersion tank at Halasuru Lake has created hurdles for daily commuters, arguing that religious structures should not be established on pedestrian pathways.

Encroachments by roadside shrines have prompted civic responses in other parts of the city as well. Authorities recently demolished a portion of a Ganesh temple built on a footpath in AECS Layout, while complaints have also been lodged regarding shrines on Central Street in Shivajinagar and in Mahalakshmi Layout.