Govt to ban street vendors on key roads in Bengaluru

Bengaluru

In a sweeping push to reclaim public spaces and streamline urban mobility, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday said that street vendors will soon be barred from operating on main and sub-main roads across Bengaluru, as part of a new footpath and street vending policy under formulation.

The decision was discussed during a meeting of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) executive committee and a joint budget session of multiple city corporations at Vidhana Soudha. The meeting saw participation from legislators across party lines, including Leader of Opposition R Ashok, along with officials from key civic and infrastructure agencies such as police, BESCOM, BMRCL, BWSSB, and BDA.

Shivakumar said the move comes in response to growing concerns over pedestrian safety, with footpaths increasingly encroached upon by vendors. “Citizens are struggling to walk on footpaths. We will designate specific vending zones and ensure that pedestrian pathways are kept clear,” he said, adding that there was unanimous agreement among MLAs on the proposal.

The government plans to formalise vending through a regulated system, allowing only registered vendors with identity cards to operate in designated areas. Of the nearly 60,000 registered street vendors in the city, around 30,000 have already applied for vending carts, for which tenders have been floated. Vendors who leave carts unattended on roads overnight risk having them seized by authorities, he warned.

In a parallel crackdown, the government is also considering steep penalties for unauthorised flex banners, a long-standing civic nuisance. Shivakumar said violators could face fines ranging from ₹50,000 to ₹1 lakh per banner. “Despite repeated warnings, illegal flex banners — including birthday and greeting hoardings — continue to mushroom across the city. This must stop,” he said, noting that enforcement responsibility would lie with both police and municipal officials. Only designated locations will be permitted for such displays, subject to prior approval.

The Dy.CM also flagged the issue of abandoned vehicles clogging city roads. Vehicles left parked for extended periods will be towed and shifted to designated dumping yards identified at Bellahalli, Bidaganhalli, Biddanahalli, and Sondekoppa, with more sites to be added. Each municipal corporation has been equipped with two towing vehicles to enforce parking norms, he said.

On broader civic management, Shivakumar indicated that decisions regarding park timings within municipal limits would be taken in consultation with local MLAs, reflecting a decentralised approach to governance.

The meeting also touched upon budgetary demands from legislators, many of whom sought grants in the range of ₹5–10 crore per ward. Responding to the requests, Shivakumar remarked wryly, “They are asking for the sky and the earth—we will see what can be done.”

He declined to comment on political developments related to the Davanagere by-election, stating that he would respond after gathering more information.