BENGALURU:
The Bengaluru Central City Corporation and the Greater Bengaluru Authority have initiated steps to remove unauthorised shop structures located on the public footpath beneath the flyover at Mysore Road, K.R. Market. The action follows an order issued by the High Court of Karnataka on July 17, 2026, in Writ Petition No. 20863 of 2026 and connected matters.
Background of the Case
Six petitioners had previously approached the High Court seeking directions to restrain authorities from demolishing or interfering with shop premises under their occupation below the K.R. Market flyover.
During the legal proceedings, the State Government and the Greater Bengaluru Authority submitted that the trade licences presented by the petitioners appeared dubious and lacked signatures from authorized revenue officers during the relevant period.
Authorities further maintained that the structures encroached upon public footpaths in violation of Supreme Court directives concerning pedestrian pathways.
Faced with these submissions, the petitioners filed affidavits expressing their readiness to surrender the premises while seeking alternative arrangements.
High Court Directions and Deadlines
The High Court disposed of the petitions by granting the petitioners a 15-day window—running from the date of the order—to voluntarily hand over vacant possession of the premises.
According to the official statement released by the civic administration, the stipulated 15-day voluntary period has now elapsed without the premises being handed over:
- Authority to Dismantle: With the deadline passed, the civic authorities are legally empowered under the specific terms of the court order to dismantle and remove the structures without issuing any further notice.
- Restoration of Public Space: Officials emphasized that the enforcement action is designed to recover public footpaths for safe, unobstructed pedestrian movement in the heavily frequented K.R. Market area.
- Vending Committee Liberty: While clearance operations proceed, the Court has preserved the petitioners’ liberty to approach the Provisional Town Vending Committee within a stipulated six-week period to seek legal consideration for alternative vending spaces.
The civic body reiterated that the demolition drive is strictly compliance-driven, aimed at upholding the High Court’s directives and protecting the broader public interest.
