Bengaluru to Declare 1,500 Km of Roads as Non-Vending Zones Before July 1

Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda has directed civic officials to declare at least 1,500 kilometres of arterial and sub-arterial roads in Bengaluru as non-vending zones. The directive comes ahead of the scheduled launch of the city's "Safe Footpath" campaign on July 1.

Speaking at a preparatory meeting for the campaign, Minister Gowda explained that Bengaluru has a road network of approximately 15,000 kilometres. Under the new directive, at least 10 percent of these roads—specifically the arterial and sub-arterial routes—must be designated as non-vending zones. The Minister stated that street vendors would still be allowed to hawk their wares on the remaining roads, provided they do not cause inconvenience to the public.

The directive aims to clear footpaths for pedestrian safety, aligning with a recent Supreme Court order which affirmed that walking on a safe footpath is a fundamental right of the people. Minister Gowda also instructed officials to adhere to the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014.

According to the Minister's instructions, civic officials must first prepare a list of targeted roads where the clearance drive will be conducted. They are then required to create awareness among local shops and vendors, serve them official notices, and proceed with clearing encroachments only if the vendors do not comply.

However, the directive has sparked concerns among local street vendors. The Karnataka Progressive Street Vendors Association released a statement on Monday alleging that, despite the absence of an official government order, Greater Bengaluru Authority officials have already begun threatening vendors with eviction based on the Minister's remarks.

While the association welcomed the government's focus on pedestrian safety and the need for wider, usable footpaths, they raised concerns over the sudden threats of displacement. Representative members asserted that street vendors are legitimate users of public space under the Street Vendors Act of 2014 and urged authorities to avoid premature evictions.