Bengaluru: Early-morning demolition drive clears encroachments on Gandhi Bazaar footpath

GBA-backed operation removes unauthorised shops and sheds after repeated warnings to restore safe pedestrian movement in one of Bengaluru’s busiest market stretches.

Gandhi Bazaar, one of Bengaluru’s busiest traditional market areas, witnessed a major clearance operation early on Wednesday as civic teams moved in to remove unauthorised shops and structures occupying the footpath. The action followed growing concerns that pedestrians were being forced onto the main road due to makeshift sheds and extended stalls blocking the walkway.

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According to officials, shopkeepers had erected tarpaulin-covered sheds and additional counters on the pedestrian path, causing congestion and safety risks. Although around 120 vending spaces had been identified and allocated earlier, several traders continued to operate beyond their assigned limits, leading to repeated complaints and warnings.

The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), acting on directions from the Central City Commissioner Rajendra Cholan, launched a coordinated eviction early in the morning. The operation involved 2 JCBs, 7 tractors, 3 lorries and around 40 personnel, who cleared the additional structures set up on the pedestrian zone. In total, five shops occupying the footpath were removed during the drive.

Tensions briefly escalated as some traders alleged that evictions were carried out without prior notice, leading to arguments with officials at the site. However, authorities stated that vendors had been informed multiple times and asked to operate strictly within their designated spaces, but violations continued despite repeated reminders.

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The GBA clarified that the purpose of the clearance was to ensure uninterrupted pedestrian access and to regulate market activity fairly. Officials reiterated that vendors must confine their business to the spaces officially allotted to them. Any future attempts to extend beyond permitted areas, they warned, will result in legal action.

The operation was supervised by Executive Engineer Pradeep Kumar along with Assistant Executive Engineers Krishnakumar and Ramegowda.

With the footpath now cleared, the civic body aims to maintain the pedestrian-friendly stretch and prevent renewed encroachments in the coming weeks.

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