Gangavathi: Shop owners in the city have allegedly encroached upon pedestrian footpaths constructed under the Amrut City scheme and have been carrying out business activities on them for nearly 20 years. Despite repeated notices issued by the City Municipal Council to vacate the footpaths, the shop owners reportedly failed to comply.

Following this, under the leadership of Municipal Commissioner R. Virupaksha Murthy, officials and civic workers launched a clearance drive using JCB machines in several areas, including Daily Market, Ganesh Circle, and Gandhi Circle, early on Wednesday morning.

Meanwhile, the District Legal Services Authority has taken suo motu cognisance of the issue of footpath encroachment and inconvenience to pedestrians, and has registered a case against the City Municipal Council and the police department. Although the court had directed authorities to clear the encroachments and submit a report by April 17, no action was taken.