The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has rolled out a special operation that will tow and auction vehicles parked on pavements after a 7‑day notice. Owners can pay a fine to retrieve their cars before auction, but no claims will be entertained post-sale.
The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) announced today that starting Friday, a focused drive will begin to remove abandoned vehicles from footpaths across the city. The move is part of the broader “Safe Footpath” initiative aimed at making Bengaluru’s streets safer for pedestrians.
Notice and Towing Procedure
Chief Commissioner M. Maheshwara Rao explained that a formal notice will be posted on each unclaimed vehicle, granting owners a seven‑day window to relocate the car. Failure to do so will result in the vehicle being towed, seized, and subsequently auctioned under Section 324 of the GBA Act, 2024. Vehicle owners wishing to reclaim their cars before auction must pay a fine at the designated police station, after which no further claims will be entertained.
Pedestrian Safety and Government Stance
Last month, Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda emphasized that footpaths are not parking spaces and warned that vehicles left unattended would be towed. He cited a Supreme Court ruling that walking on a footpath is a fundamental right and highlighted that 30% of every 1,000 road‑accident deaths in Bengaluru involve pedestrians. Gowda also instructed the removal of shopfronts and obstructions on at least 2,000 km of priority roads to facilitate smoother pedestrian movement.
Vendor Concerns and Public Response
By the eighth day of the campaign, the GBA had cleared 432 km of footpaths. Meanwhile, the Karnataka Progressive Street Vendors Union and affiliated bodies—representing 200,000 street vendors—have demanded compensation for those affected by the eviction drive.
Public Advisory and Future Steps
Commissioner Rao urged citizens to shift any unattended vehicles to private property immediately to avoid confiscation. This policy is positioned as a decisive step in improving pedestrian safety and urban mobility, though it must balance the livelihoods of street vendors and the practicalities of vehicle owners.
By targeting illegal pavement parking, Bengaluru’s administration seeks to reduce pedestrian fatalities and streamline traffic flow, marking a significant shift in the city’s urban management strategy.
