Stray Cattle Menace Troubles Residents on Annaswamy Mudaliar Road

Residents and commuters along Annaswamy Mudaliar Road in Bengaluru are dealing with a severe stray cattle nuisance, as cows let loose on the road continue to obstruct vehicular movement, litter footpaths, and feast on roadside garbage.

According to local residents, cattle belonging to a local owner are routinely released onto the street after milking in the morning and left to wander until evening. The animals have been blocking traffic during peak hours, damaging roadside saplings, and scattering waste from dustbins placed outside buildings.

V Purushotham, a local resident, stated that despite repeated complaints lodged with the Bengaluru Central City Corporation (BCCC), civic authorities have failed to address the issue. He noted that the cows remain on the road all day, defecating on footpaths and feeding on waste, causing immense inconvenience to pedestrians.

Another resident, Udai Bali, raised concerns about traffic obstructions and public safety. He pointed out that while residents are not against the animals, the cattle have become a persistent hazard by blocking vehicles and consuming saplings planted along the stretch. Resident Shekar C also urged civic officials to direct the owners to keep their cattle tethered in sheds, emphasising that searching for food scraps leads the cows to spill garbage onto public spaces and poses risks to people walking in the area.

Civic and police officials, however, have pointed to departmental jurisdictional divisions in resolving the matter. BCCC Health Inspector Anjan Krishna Rao stated that stray cattle do not fall under his jurisdiction and directed complaints to the Animal Husbandry Department, noting that the footpath nuisance would cease if cattle were housed in designated locations.

Meanwhile, the Pulikeshinagar Traffic Police Inspector confirmed that his department had also written to the Animal Husbandry Department regarding the traffic disruptions and pedestrian hazards caused by the cows. The inspector noted that while Animal Husbandry officials took some initial steps, sustained measures to eliminate the problem on the road have yet to be implemented.