Bengaluru to ban street vendors on key roads to ease movement: DK Shivakumar

Bengaluru is planning to ban street vendors on main and sub-main roads, creating designated vending zones to ease pedestrian movement. DK Shivakumar also announced fines up to Rs 1 lakh for illegal flex banners and action against abandoned vehicles.

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday announced that a new policy will be formulated to ban street vendors from main and sub-main roads in Bengaluru, as part of efforts to ease pedestrian movement and regulate urban spaces.

Speaking to reporters after a Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) executive committee meeting and budget discussions at Vidhana Soudha, Shivakumar said the meeting was attended by MLAs within the GBA jurisdiction, along with Leader of Opposition R Ashok, officials from the police, BESCOM, BMRCL, BWSSB, BDA, and ministers and legislators.

“All five corporations have prepared their own separate budgets. MLAs have submitted requests and urged that grants be provided ward-wise. We have decided to introduce a new policy for footpaths. Citizens are struggling to walk due to encroachments by street vendors,” he said.

Under the proposed policy, vendors will not be allowed on main and sub-main roads, and designated spaces will be created for them. “Specific roads must be identified for vending. All MLAs have unanimously agreed to this,” he added.

Shivakumar also warned that vendors who leave carts parked on roads at night will face action. “If vendors trade during the day and leave their carts on the roadside at night, officials will seize them,” he said.

According to him, around 60,000 street vendors have registered so far, of whom 30,000 have requested vending carts, with tenders already floated. Only vendors with valid identity cards will be allowed to operate, while those without ID cards will not be permitted to conduct business on roadsides.