The Chief Minister's Office of Karnataka announced on Friday, 10 July 2026 that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar personally inspected ongoing footpath encroachment clearance and repair work across key areas of Bengaluru, including HAL Old Airport Road, HSR Layout, Jayanagar 4th Block, and Ashoka Pillar, accompanied by Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byregowda.

Context

The inspection was part of the 'Safe Footpath' (Surakshita Padachari Marga) campaign launched by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to reclaim pedestrian walkways from encroachers. The Chief Minister addressed the media at the sites, reaffirming the government's commitment to making Bengaluru 'cleaner, safer, and more beautiful' — ಸ್ವಚ್ಛ, ಸುರಕ್ಷಿತ ಹಾಗೂ ಸುಂದರ [clean, safe, and beautiful].

According to the official post, more than 430 kilometres of footpaths across the city have already been cleared of encroachments, and a total of 9,878 encroachments of various kinds — including shop fronts spilling onto roads — have been removed so far. The campaign is being driven under the direct leadership of Minister Krishna Byregowda.

Policy Backdrop

The drive comes in direct response to directions from the Supreme Court of India, which has repeatedly ordered municipal bodies to treat footpaths as non-negotiable pedestrian rights-of-way and to prevent their use as parking or commercial space. The government cited a grim statistic from the official post: more than 900 people lost their lives in Bengaluru over the past three years while crossing roads or walking in areas lacking proper footpaths.

Bengaluru has seen periodic anti-encroachment operations in its central business districts since the late 2010s, often triggered by public interest litigations. The current campaign represents a more citywide, sustained push, and fits within the broader national emphasis on walkability under urban development frameworks such as the Smart Cities Mission.

Stakeholders and Impact

While the drive is aimed squarely at improving pedestrian safety, the government has also committed to protecting the livelihoods of street vendors. The official post states that designated vending zones will be identified for registered vendors, and pushcarts will be distributed to them so their income is not disrupted. This dual approach seeks to balance enforcement with social equity.

The campaign's next phase will include the removal of abandoned vehicles left on footpaths across the city. Citizens, elected representatives, civic officials, and all stakeholders who have joined the initiative were commended by the Chief Minister's Office in the post.

What's Next

The government has signalled that the Safe Footpath campaign will be intensified in the coming days, with no exceptions made for any category of encroacher. Repair of damaged footpaths is also underway simultaneously, with the goal of making them fully usable for the public.

The rollout of designated vending zones and the distribution of pushcarts to registered street vendors will be a key measure of whether the government can sustain public support for the drive without triggering backlash from the informal economy. Progress reports to the Supreme Court of India may also shape the pace and scope of future enforcement.