Ongoing 'Safe Footpath Campaign' in Bengaluru stirs tensions between city officials,street vendors. Hundreds of vendors evicted last week,their goods seized as authorities clear encroachments blocking pedestrian paths.
Raju K.M., selling accessories for 15 years at Malleshwaram 8th Cross,voiced frustration. Labeled as encroachers,he and fellow vendors struggled against officials trying to take their merchandise. “We are now doing business on some small inner roads,scared like thieves,” he said.
Campaign's reception mixed. Some residents back the move for pedestrian safety. But many vendors see it as threat to livelihoods. S. Babu,street vendor and president of Karnataka Pragatipara Beedi Vyaparigala Sangha,reported strong resistance in Vijayanagar,forcing officials to retreat after two days of protests.
Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda announced plans to mark about 1,500 kilometers of roads — 10% of city's network — as no vending zones. He defended it,saying vendors are just asked to move to quieter streets.
But vendors argue this violates Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act,2014. They claim no evictions should occur until a full survey's done,ID cards issued. Babu pointed out only 34,000 vendors registered in recent survey,despite over 80,000 having loans under PM SVANidhi scheme — a major undercount.
Street Vendors’ Joint Action Committee raised more concerns,emphasizing only Town Vending Committees,with vendor reps, can declare no vending zones. Expired committee terms in 2023,no new ones formed under new corporations . “How can Minister unilaterally declare no vending zones?” they asked.
Vendors also reported evictions without notice. No written documentation on seized goods,adding to their anger.
Campaign supporters like I Change Indiranagar argue vendors clog footpaths,posing danger to pedestrians. They cited cases where even professionals run shops on footpaths,challenging the view that all vendors are poor. “People had stopped walking on the footpaths as they were occupied,” a representative said, urging creation of designated hawking zones .
Street vendor unions say it's not just pedestrians vs. vendors . Most pedestrian deaths happen crossing roads,they argue for wider footpaths to fit both groups.
In response to evictions,vendors formed Joint Action Committee,announced a strike for July 8 . Demands: halt evictions,restore vendors to original spots,return confiscated goods,fully enforce 2014 vending law…
