Operation Footpath…

Illegal vending curbed near Chikkagadiyara; pedestrian space back

Mysuru: Following the Mysuru City Corporation’s (MCC) drive against footpath encroachments by vendors, illegal vending has come under control in the heart of the city.

Pushcarts vendors, who had been carrying out business at prominent locations on major roads, have voluntarily vacated the footpaths, fearing action.

The clearance has greatly benefited pedestrians, who now have sufficient space to walk along roads near Chikkagadiyara in front of Devaraja Market, Boti Bazaar Road, near Olympia Talkies, the stretch from Sayyaji Rao Road to Kotwal Ramaiah Street, the surroundings of Makkaji Chowk and other areas. Two-wheeler riders now have adequate space to park their vehicles.

Footpath vendors, who had set up makeshift garment and footwear stalls in large numbers, had made life difficult for both motorists and pedestrians.

The stretch of Sayyaji Rao Road made pedestrian-friendly.

Users heave a sigh of relief

Navigating these stretches, particularly during peak hours, had become a challenge. With the MCC cracking down on encroachments without showing any leniency, road users are finally breathing a sigh of relief.

A roadside vendor near Devaraja Market said that while vendors on one side of the road had been asked to move back, those operating on the opposite footpath had been evicted.

Autorickshaw drivers near Olympia Talkies said vendors who had occupied a portion of the road had vacated the area.

While the MCC launched its ‘Operation Footpath’ from the Outer Ring Road (ORR), beginning at Hebbal and covering KRS Road and Irwin Road, the Devaraja Traffic Police joined the drive by clearing more than 15 pushcart vendors from the stretch between Chikkagadiyara and Boti Bazaar Road.

According to Police sources, these vendors had occupied parking spaces and obstructed vehicular movement, prompting action.

When Star of Mysore contacted the Assistant Commissioner of MCC Zone-6, the officer clarified that the Corporation’s footpath clearance drive has so far covered only up to Irwin Road. Plans are being prepared to extend the operation to other roads, including the areas around Devaraja Market and Sayyaji Rao Road.

Some vendors, he added, are voluntarily vacating the encroached spaces after being instructed to do so.