The Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (Bescom) is relocating electrical transformers and poles that block footpaths across Bengaluru.
This initiative aims to restore pedestrian access and improve safety in a city where infrastructure often obstructs walking paths. By removing these hazards, the city seeks to reduce pedestrian congestion and lower the risk of accidents involving electrical equipment.
The effort is part of the month-long Clean Up Bengaluru campaign. Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said the obstructions must be removed to ensure the city's walkways are usable for the public.
According to recent data from the campaign, crews have already cleared 694 transformer yards [1]. Additionally, 356 electrical poles have been relocated to different positions to open up pedestrian lanes [1].
Bescom is coordinating the moves to ensure that the relocation of equipment does not disrupt the city's power grid. The campaign focuses on identifying high-traffic areas where electrical infrastructure forces pedestrians to walk on the main roads, a common safety concern in the Karnataka capital.
The city's administration is treating the relocation as a priority under the broader urban cleanup strategy. The project targets various neighborhoods where the placement of poles and yards has historically hindered the development of walkable infrastructure.
“Bescom is relocating electrical transformers and poles that block footpaths across Bengaluru.”
The relocation of electrical infrastructure reflects a shift toward pedestrian-centric urban planning in Bengaluru. By addressing the physical barriers created by utility companies, the city is attempting to resolve a long-standing conflict between utility maintenance and public right-of-way, which is essential for reducing traffic fatalities and improving urban mobility.
