Evicted in morning, footpath vendors back in evening

Hawkers, who were encroaching upon footpaths at Jayanagar Shopping Complex, were evicted on Thursday morning by Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).

However, some of the hawkers occupied the footpaths again in the evening.
"There are more than 100 footpath vendors who have encroached the pavements. Due to them, visitors struggle to enter the complex. The civic agency is being partial. While they collect fine if shopkeepers keep their items outside their shops, they do not take any action against the vendors barring drives to clear them away," said Noor, member of the Jayanagar Shopping Complex Merchants Association and one of the traders.

Goods seized
The shop keepers complained that on April 8, Palike seized goods from around 100- 150 shopkeepers for displaying their goods outside.

"Some times, the Palike officials do not even return the goods though we pay the fine," said a trader, on the condition of anonymity.

"There are more than 400 – 500 shops inside the complex but due to the menace of footpath vendors, the business has taken a beating. The encroachment is taking place for more than ten years. The hawkers open shops from 10 am and continue their business till 9 pm to 10 pm," said another trader, M Ahmed.