Vinod M Jain
*Joint task forces to monitor cleared stretches and act against repeat violations.
*Alternative vending spaces to be identified without affecting livelihoods.
*Speed up removal of abandoned and seized vehicles from public spaces.
*Sustained ward-level cleanliness drives to continue across Bengaluru.
Greater Bengaluru Development Minister,Krishna Byre Gowda has directed officials to ensure that footpaths cleared of encroachments are not occupied again by street vendors, calling for continuous monitoring and strict action against repeat violations.
He instructed officials to seize materials and impose fines on vendors who re-encroach, and said FIRs should be registered against repeat offenders in accordance with the law.
The Minister issued the directions during a virtual meeting to review the ongoing drive to clear footpath encroachments,provide alternative arrangements for street vendors,remove abandoned and seized vehicles, and sustain cleanliness drives across Bengaluru.
1373 km of roads cleared of encroachments:
Commending officials for the progress made during the two-month-long campaign,Mr.Byre Gowda said encroachments have so far been cleared along 1,373.32 km of roads across the five city corporations,covering arterial and sub-arterial roads.
“Clearing encroachments is not enough.We have to ensure that the same stretches do not get encroached upon again,”he told officials.
He directed each city corporation to constitute a joint task force involving civic and police officials to monitor the cleared stretches.
Regular as well as surprise inspections should be carried out, and any instance of re-encroachment should be acted upon immediately.
He also directed officials to put in place a system to document violations through photographs and geo-tagged information, while marshals and beat police personnel should conduct joint inspections regularly.
FIRs,seizure and fines for repeat offenders:
The Minister said officials must clearly fix responsibility for preventing re-encroachments and regularly review action taken.
“Simply stating that an encroachment has been cleared is not enough,”he said,directing officials to register FIRs against repeat violators, seize the materials involved and impose higher penalties wherever permitted under the law.
Alternative spaces for street vendors:
Mr.Byre Gowda said the objective of the encroachment clearance drive was to improve public safety and ease traffic,and not to disrupt the livelihoods of street vendors.
Officials and police should formally communicate to vendors the roads where street vending is restricted.At the same time,alternative locations should be identified on main roads and important junctions where vending can take place without obstructing pedestrian or vehicular movement,he directed.
He asked officials to provide the necessary guidance and assistance to vendors while implementing the restrictions.
*11,346 seized vehicles occupying public space:
The Minister also directed officials to accelerate the removal of abandoned and seized vehicles that have remained for years in police station premises,on roads, footpaths and other public spaces.
As part of the ongoing drive, the shifting of such vehicles to locations outside the city has already commenced from the Jayanagar Police Station.
According to the assessment,around 11,346 vehicles have been occupying space for prolonged periods in and around police stations across Bengaluru, resulting in complaints about obstruction to public movement.
Mr.Byre Gowda said preparatory meetings had been held over the past two months and special requests had been made in cases involving vehicles under court proceedings.With the assistance of the Revenue Department, locations are being identified for shifting these vehicles.
The Revenue Department has provided land at seven locations on the outskirts of Bengaluru, covering around 26 acres, for parking the seized vehicles.
The Minister directed officials to shift the vehicles to the designated locations at the earliest and free up public spaces.
Explore auction of towed vehicles:
Mr.Byre Gowda also suggested expediting the legally permissible auction of towed vehicles and clearing vehicles that have remained in yards for long periods.
Where vehicles that have been lying unused for decades cannot be auctioned through the normal legal process, officials should examine the possibility of handing them over to registered scrap dealers,as suggested by the Chief Commissioner,he said.
*5,267 tonnes of waste cleared; ward-level drives to continue.
Reviewing the cleanliness campaign, the Minister said 5,267.65 tonnes of waste had already been cleared across the five city corporations as part of the “Freedom from Waste” campaign.
He said the exercise should not end with the campaign and directed officials to conduct continuous and intensive cleanliness drives in every ward to maintain a cleaner Bengaluru.
Teams comprising officials from the city corporations and relevant agencies should work in coordination and ensure that cleanliness operations are carried out at the required pace,he said.
The Minister also directed officials to take effective action against the dumping of waste on private vacant sites.
Owners of private properties that are not kept clean should be fined as per the rules, with the penalty recovered through the property’s e-Khata,he said.
Officials were also asked to create public awareness about the penalties and ensure that vacant sites do not become dumping grounds.
GBA Chief Commissioner calls for coordinated action:
GBA Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao directed officials to coordinate effectively on encroachment clearance, removal of abandoned vehicles and cleanliness drives.
He stressed the need for city corporations, traffic police and other concerned agencies to work together and respond quickly to problems identified at the field level.
Transport Commissioner,Dr.Selvamani R.,city corporation commissioners,Jagadeesh G,Pommala Sunil Kumar,Dr.Rajendra K.V.,Ramesh D.S.and Ramesh K.N., Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic),Karthik Reddy, and senior officials from the GBA and other departments were present.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Land identified by Revenue Department for parking seized vehicles :
1.Hagadur village,K.R. Puram Hobli,Bengaluru East Taluk:0-26 guntas in Survey No.135 reserved through order dated September 2,2026.
2.Yarappanahalli village,Bidarahalli Hobli, Bengaluru East Taluk: 0-35 guntas in Survey No.20 reserved through order dated August 19,2026.
3.Hongasandra village,Begur Hobli,Bengaluru South Taluk: 1 acre 1 gunta in Survey No.44 reserved through order dated August 19,2026.
4.Thammanayakanahalli village,Kasaba Hobli,Anekal Taluk:15 acres in Survey No.23;proposal submitted for Government approval.
5.Bagalur village,Jala Hobli,Yelahanka Taluk:2 acres in Survey No. 211;proposal submitted for Government approval.
6.Bengaluru North Taluk:4 acres in Survey No. 63 at Bommashettihalli village and 2 acres in Survey No.80 at Giddenahalli village; proposals submitted for Government approval.
