Bengaluru will begin removing construction and inert waste from city streets and footpaths starting Aug. 1 [1].
This initiative aims to improve pedestrian safety and urban cleanliness by clearing obstructions that hinder movement on public walkways. The effort follows a previous campaign focused on securing footpaths for residents.
The drive, titled "Freedom from Waste," is a joint effort between Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Ltd. and the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) [1]. Reports said construction and debris (C&D), as well as inert waste lying on streets and footpaths across the city, will be cleared [1].
This is the second such special drive after the GBA launched the Safe Footpath drive on July 1 [1]. The previous campaign focused on pedestrian safety, and the current waste removal effort is designed to complement those goals by removing physical hazards from the transit environment.
To streamline the process, Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Ltd. has developed a dedicated app called "Clearit" [1]. The application is intended to help coordinate the removal of waste and manage the logistics of the cleanup across the city.
City officials said the drive will target all major streets and footpaths. By removing inert waste — materials that do not decompose, such as concrete and bricks — the city hopes to restore full access to pedestrian infrastructure [1].
“Construction and debris (C&D) as well as inert waste lying on streets and footpaths across the city will be cleared”
The transition from the Safe Footpath drive to the 'Freedom from Waste' initiative suggests a phased approach by the Greater Bengaluru Authority to reclaim urban space. By combining physical cleanup with a digital reporting tool like the Clearit app, the city is attempting to modernize waste management and create a sustainable system for maintaining pedestrian infrastructure.
