Mysuru – The monthly meeting of Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP) will be held on June 14 (Sunday) at its office, 6/1, Vivekananda Road, Yadavagiri, Mysuru, at 4 pm to achieve the unachievable — giving  footpath back to pedestrians.

The discussion will be initiated by Dr. H.S. Champa, Dean of Mysuru School of Architecture. She will share data based on an ongoing study by the students on the latest status of footpath all over the city with some preliminary recommendations, stated the MGP in a press release. 

Representatives from Police Department and Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) will share their view points on the latest status of footpath encroachment — action taken by the authorities following Supreme Court  (SC)judgement; funds allocated in the budget; strategies to relocate the permitted street vendors; measures taken to stop parking of vehicles on footpaths, etc. 

In a landmark decision in May 2025 (there have been two earlier in 2014 and 2017), the Supreme Court had reiterated that the right to safe, unhindered and disabled friendly footpaths is an integral part of Right to Life under Article 21 of Constitution.  This was followed by another SC judgement ordering a nation-wide audit of footpaths in 50 cities last October. 

The directive was in response to alarming statistics: In 2023, pedestrians accounted for 35,221 of 1,72,890 road accident deaths, many caused by absence of footpaths or missing zebra crossings.

In Mysuru itself the shocking fatality of a senior citizen run over by a KSRTC bus near Vivekananda Circle and the heart-wrenching story of a four-year-old boy losing his life after being splashed with hot oil from a vendor’s stove on an encroached footpath in N.R. Mohalla last year should show the urgency to clear footpath encroachment.  

Citizens who wish to ask questions are requested to e-mail them in advance to [email protected]. For details contact MGP on Ph:  0821-2515150.