Bengaluru Minister Krishna Byre Gowda orders setting up of joint police-civic teams to monitor footpath encroachment

Encroachment of footpath by shopkeepers and street vendors in Shivajinagar. | Photo Credit: Murali Kumar K Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda has directed officials to set up joint task forces comprising police and civic officials in each city corporation jurisdiction to prevent re-encroachment of footpaths cleared across Bengaluru.The task forces will be responsible for sustained monitoring of cleared footpaths, jointly enforcing rules, and initiating action against repeat encroachers. The Minister issued the directions at a video conference meeting on September 3 to review footpath encroachments.He has directed Commissioners of civic bodies to issue a joint order or circular institutionalising police-civic enforcement, defining the responsibilities and jurisdictions of officials, and establishing a system for swift action and regular review of re-encroachment cases.Mr. Gowda said that the cleared footpaths should be subjected to regular as well as surprise inspections, with immediate action against fresh encroachments.Marshals and beat police personnel have been directed to jointly conduct regular inspections. Cases of re-encroachment should be promptly identified, and reported with photographic and geo-tagged evidence, he said.He called for stringent action against repeat violators, including registration of FIRs, seizure of materials used for encroachment, and higher penalties as per the rules.Officials have also been directed to clearly identify roads where street vending is restricted or prohibited, and formally communicate the details to the police and civic authorities concerned. On major and high-traffic roads, measures should be taken to ensure that street vendors do not obstruct pedestrian or vehicular movement, he said.Mr. Gowda directed officials to conduct a fresh, comprehensive survey of street vendors at the earliest. He instructed officials to complete pending statutory processes, including the constitution of Town Vending Committees, in accordance with the law. Published - September 04, 2026 05:00 pm IST