Defunct Smart Parking Kiosks Block MG Road Footpaths Despite Pedestrian Clearance Drive

Defunct and damaged smart parking kiosks continue to block pedestrian footpaths on MG Road and other areas in Bengaluru's Central Business District (CBD), even as the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) intensifies its "Safe Footpath" encroachment clearance drive. Installed in September 2020 by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), these bulky automated machines have remained unused for over a year and a half, presenting a persistent obstacle for pedestrians.

The kiosks were originally part of an ambitious smart parking initiative launched alongside the Namma Bengaluru Smart Parking app. The project was aimed at modernizing on-street parking management, curbing illegal parking rackets, promoting digital payments, and easing traffic congestion in the city's busiest commercial corridors.

However, the automated system gradually ground to a halt due to technical glitches, poor public adoption, and management disputes. Today, many of these yellow kiosks are vandalized, with broken screens, missing panels, or rusting metal frames, while others remain wrapped in dust.

The GBA's "Safe Footpath" campaign has cleared more than 490 kilometers of footpaths across Bengaluru since its launch on July 1, targeting illegal structures, shop extensions, and advertisements. Despite these efforts, the bulky parking machines remain unaddressed.

When contacted, multiple GBA officials in the Central Zone were unable to clarify the status or future of the abandoned kiosks. Several officials stated they were unaware of the issue or referred inquiries to other departments.

Suhail Yusuf, Secretary of the Brigade Road Shops and Establishments Association (BSEA), noted that while smart parking is an important solution for managing road space, the defunct kiosks must be maintained or removed. He stated that if the government is clearing illegal encroachments from footpaths, these defunct kiosks should also be removed, as they effectively become obstructions once abandoned.

Traffic officials stated that the automated self-service system was discontinued after failing to sustain operations. The GBA has since shifted to a manual fee collection model through private contractors.