Pedestrians have to jostle for space that is rightfully theirs on the city's footpaths. Encroachment of footpaths by shops and establishments and for vehicle parking is a bane that the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is fighting against.
Towards this end, BBMP is preparing a plan of action for removal of footpath encroachments. Part of the plan is also to ensure that the basement is used for the purpose allowed in the sanctioned building plan. The drive will begin in all the eight zones in January 2019.
According to BBMP Commissioner N. Manjunath Prasad, a discussion about footpath encroachments and using basement parking space for commercial activities was held recently with Police Commissioner T. Suneel Kumar and Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) P. Harishekaran.
He said that across the city, the basement parking is used for commercial purposes or other activities, and vehicles are forced to park on roads, leading to congestion and inconvenience to the public. “The encroachment removal drive will be taken up jointly by the BBMP and the police administration,” he said.
The zonal joint commissioners and chief engineers have been directed to draw up a plan of action for the same, besides identifying commercial establishments that have illegally using their basement parking areas for commercial activities. They have also been directed to submit the plan of action by the end of the week.
Mr. Prasad has appointed nodal officers to monitor the drive in each zone. These nodal officers will guide the zonal commissioners and chief engineers in their jurisdictions to prepare the action plan and hold coordination meetings with the police before and after the encroachment removal drive.
