Mahadevapura footpaths to be rid of encroachments

The BBMP will undertake a major drive to remove footpath encroachments in all wards of Mahadevapura zone in East Bengaluru on Tuesday.

During the one-month drive, the BBMP aims to check encroachments on footpaths of 17 wards in the zone, score them out and penalise the repeated offenders.

“With an intention to make the already available footpaths free for pedestrians to walk, we have taken up the drive. We have divided the zone into two divisions — KR Puram and Mahadevapura divisions — and we will carry out the work ward-wise. We will finish the first round of the drive by the end of this month,” said Parameshwariah, chief engineer, BBMP.

It has been a year or two since the BBMP conducted such footpath encroachment clearance drives in the zone.

Parameshwariah opined that there is a need for enforcing the law as the encroachment of footpaths is becoming rampant by permanent vendors like pan, gutka, cigarette and tea shops occupying a larger portion of footpaths, especially in Mahadevapura zone. “I have asked all the executive engineers and officials of the BBMP to carry out the drive rigidly,” he said.

Depending on the need and availability of resources, the Palike might also consider renovating the damaged footpaths in the zone.

Parameshwariah also said that the repeated offenders will be noted and penalised. “After the first round of the clearance drive, we will conduct two more rounds consequently. We will file FIRs against the repeated offenders,” he said.

A resident of Whitefield opined: “We don’t need 12-feet wide footpaths. We just need four-feet wide ones that are properly paved, so that there is space for walking and not enough space for vendors to encroach. Saved space can be used for a third lane.”

“Pushcarts are less of a problem, but the permanent encroachments by petty shops that sell cigarettes and gutka should be removed,” said Vimala, a resident of
Channasandra near Whitefield.