In a determined effort to restore public spaces, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the local civic and administrative body governing Bengaluru city, launched a major encroachment removal operation on the popular Church Street in the East Zone on Friday. Under the supervision of East Zone Commissioner Snehal R, the initiative targeted footpath encroachments that have long hindered pedestrian movement, The New Indian Express reported.
The recent crackdown involved clearing approximately one kilometre of the Church Street, where around 50 shops were found violating footpath regulations. (Archive)
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For years, shop owners had displayed their goods across the pavements, affecting safety and accessibility. The recent crackdown involved clearing approximately one kilometre of the Church Street, where around 50 shops were found violating footpath regulations. With the presence of police and BBMP marshals to ensure order, the operation saw the deployment of over 20 workers along with two tippers and six tractors to seize illegally placed materials, the report noted.
Commissioner Snehal R spoke to the publication and highlighted health concerns associated with cooking on pavements and the dangers of using gas cylinders in public areas, saying that such practices pose risks of accidents. The encroachment not only compromised pedestrian safety but also disrupted the flow of traffic, prompting the BBMP to commit to more rigorous enforcement measures in the eastern zone.
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In a related effort to reclaim public land, the BBMP's Lake Division also successfully cleared 2.5 guntas of encroached lake land at Kaggadasapura, the report added. Responding to community complaints, officials used bulldozers to dismantle illegal structures near the Muneshwara Temple.
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In a related effort to reclaim public land, the BBMP's Lake Division also successfully cleared 2.5 guntas of encroached lake land at Kaggadasapura, the report added. Responding to community complaints, officials used bulldozers to dismantle illegal structures near the Muneshwara Temple.
An assistant executive engineer stated that the reclaimed land, valued at over ₹2 crore, is now being fenced to prevent further encroachments. The BBMP is also coordinating with the Land Grabbing Prohibition Special Court to address permanent structures in the area, the publication further stated.
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.
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Home/Cities/Bengaluru News/Bengaluru civic body cleans up encroachments on popular Church Street, reclaims lake land: Report
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