Mysuru: The Mysuru City Corporation (MCC), which has taken up a drive to clear footpath encroachments in various parts of city, has pulled down over 320 encroachments on Hanumanthanagar Main Road in Bannimantap here this morning. Armed with five JCB machines, tractor and trailer, 40 gang men, led by MCC Assistant Commissioner Mahesh and Development Officer Srinivas, cleared the footpaths on the main road.

They removed all structures like tea shops, petty shops, cycle and scooter repair shops. Also, the footpath encroached by Royal Function Hall on busy Mysuru-Bengaluru Road near JSS Medical College, was cleared.

Following complaints from public, MCC Footpath Encroachment Clearance Drive teams cleared encroachments in Bannimantap today and the drive would be conducted at other locations of the city also.

Apart from Enforcement, officials and staff were drawn from Town Planning, Urban Community Development and Engineering wings of MCC. Traffic and Law & Order Police too took part in the operation.

Speaking to SOM, MCC Commissioner K.H. Jagadeesha said that the drive has been taken up to make the city more pedestrian-friendly. Pedestrians are facing untold misery owing to lack of footpath space, he added.

The drive, which began in the wee hours of the day, continued till 12 noon. A posse of 80 Police personnel were deployed for security and traffic was also diverted on the said stretch.

MCC Engineers Shwetha, Rakesh and Somashekhar, NR Police Inspector Basavaraj, Mettagali Police Inspector Raghavendra Gowda, Hebbal Police Inspector Guruprasad, Jayalaskhipuram Police Inspector B.G. Prakash, Vijayanagar Police Inspector B.G. Kumar and others were present during the drive.