The HSR traffic cops removed several footpath encroachments on 27th Main Road from flyover junction to the HSR police station. The rest of the stretch will be carried out in the next few days, according to HSR traffic police.
Regarding the 24th Main Road encroachment, the cops said that the measures are temporary in nature. “We do it today but the next day, the vendors are back,” said one senior cop. Regarding shops encroaching the footpath, the cop said, “That’s the job of the BBMP officials. They know the law and we are ready to do a joint encroachment removal drive if they agree.” In addition, the traffic police are unsure about removal of footpath vendors. “They have no designated spot where we can shift them,” they said. When we told them about 18th Cross off 24th Main Road near Bescom office to be used as an alternative market road, they said they will look into it. This was proposed by Brig (Retd) RS Murthy, the former president of Sector 2 Residents Welfare Association a long time ago, but nothing came of it.
When we asked BBMP assistant engineer Ananth Raju about it, he said, “We will fix a date and send a letter to the traffic police to help us with the eviction. We also need the presence of residents and the media when the removal is happening to avoid the backlash from shopkeepers and vendors.” We will keep you posted, dear reader, so you can watch the removal while it’s in progress.