Over 500 citizens sign letter protesting Bengaluru street vendor evictions

In Bengaluru, over 500 citizens, including prominent filmmakers, writers, and academics, have endorsed an open letter protesting the eviction of street vendors from footpaths. The letter, released on July 17, 2026, strongly criticizes the Greater Bengaluru Authority's (GBA) "Safe Footpath Drive" and demands the immediate implementation of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014.

The signatories of the open letter include filmmaker Kavitha Lankesh, writer Vijayamma, astrophysicist Prajval Shastry, architect Prem Chandavarkar, writer Rahmath Tarikere, and actor Prakash Raj. The campaign, which was initiated by researchers, students, and activists, expressed solidarity with the thousands of street vendors who have overnight lost their livelihoods due to the eviction drive.

The open letter is addressed to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, and GBA Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao. The organizers planned to email the letter along with the list of endorsements directly to Mr. Shivakumar and Mr. Rao.

The letter questioned the GBA's decision to target only street vendors in its campaign. "Overnight, the government has snatched away the livelihoods of thousands of street vendors, in the name of 'safe footpaths' and 'walkable cities'," the letter stated.

Signatories pointed out an apparent double standard in how the city's pavements are managed. They noted that social media has been flooded with photographs of street vendors being evicted while large cars remain parked on the very same pavements just a few meters away. The letter asked why only street vendors are being targeted and why the campaign treats the livelihoods of the poorest as the easiest problem to solve.

While clarifying that they do not oppose pedestrian-friendly cities or walkable footpaths, the activists urged the government and GBA officials to immediately halt the eviction of street vendors. They demanded that those who have already been evicted be allowed to return to their business at the same locations.

Additionally, the letter demanded that representatives of street vendors be consulted in any future matters pertaining to the issue.