Construction materials dumped and vehicles parked on a footpath along K.H. Road (Double Road) have forced pedestrians onto the busy roadway, raising safety concerns and exposing gaps in the enforcement of pedestrian rights.
| Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Friday accused the BJP of adopting a “double standard” on the State government’s street vending policy, alleging that the Opposition was protesting against regulations it had earlier supported during an official meeting.
In a post on X, the Chief Minister reminded that during the pre-budget meeting for the 2026-27 budgets of the city’s five corporations, held under his chairmanship on March 20, all parties unanimously agreed on introducing a new regulatory framework for street vending.
“The measures approved during the meeting included earmarking designated vending zones for registered street vendors, prohibiting street vending on major roads, removing vending carts left parked on roads overnight, and making identity cards mandatory for all registered vendors,” he said.
Mr. Shivakumar noted that the people are watching the BJP’s hypocrisy. “Those who nodded in agreement within the four walls of the meeting room are now standing on the streets staging protests for political gain,” he said.
“The government is committed to freeing Bengaluru’s footpaths for pedestrians while safeguarding the interests of street vendors. The BJP’s attempt to exploit this decision for political gain is condemnable,” he said.
The remarks come amid a footpath clearance drive taken up by the Greater Bengaluru Authority and the five Bengaluru corporations.
Published – July 03, 2026 11:35 pm IST
