GBA pushes for 40-ft rule, Bengaluru traders say it’s a dead end

Bengaluru: What began as a technical tweak to zoning regulations has now spiralled into a flashpoint over the future of neighbourhood commerce in Bengaluru. The Greater Bengaluru Authority's (GBA) latest zone classification rules—restricting trade licences for businesses that began operations after 2015 on roads narrower than 40 feet in residential areas—have sparked alarm among traders and elected representatives alike, who fear the move could upend livelihoods and hollow out local economies.Critics argue that by tying licensing eligibility to road width, the GBA risks punishing small traders who form the backbone of community life—kirana stores, clinics, eateries, and workshops—many of which operate on narrow bylanes that define the city's older residential layouts.
The controversy gathered momentum Tuesday when former minister and Rajajinagar MLA Suresh Kumar fired off a letter to GBA chief commissioner M Maheshwar Rao, calling the decision "shocking and deeply concerning" and urging the immediate withdrawal of the Jan 31 circular. Kumar warned that the regulation, if enforced, would hit residential neighbourhoods the hardest—localities that evolved organically over decades and were never designed with broad arterial roads.Highlighting Bengaluru's urban reality, Kumar pointed out that nearly 46–48% of the city's 741 sqkm area is residential, much of it characterised by narrow internal roads. He noted that several villages were merged into the city during the 2008 expansion of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and again in recent years, questioning whether these areas were ever planned with 40ft-wide roads. "Unplanned development and unauthorised layouts exist because planning agencies looked the other way. Penalising traders now is unjust," he said.Citing estimates, Kumar MLA said Bengaluru has between 2.5 and 4 lakh street vendors and about 1.6–1.8 lakh grocery shops, of which only around 1.2–1.3 lakh currently hold valid trade licences. He warned that the proposed restriction would directly affect nearly 20 lakh dependent family members whose livelihoods rely on these businesses.Kumar also questioned the practicality of directing traders to relocate exclusively to roads wider than 40 feet, cautioning that such a requirement would not only be unworkable but would also severely inconvenience residents who rely on neighbourhood shops for daily essentials such as vegetables, milk, medicines and groceries. He noted that the impact would extend beyond storefronts to home-based livelihoods as well, including tailoring units and small ancillary businesses that operate within residential areas."Statutory authorities are meant to uplift vulnerable sections of society, not push them deeper into poverty," Kumar said. Trader associations across the city echoed these concerns, warning that rigid enforcement of the 40-ft rule could disrupt long-established commercial hubs and residential markets alike. They argued that traders existed in many of these areas for decades—often predating the formation of the GBA—and that policy changes without consultation could damage the city's economic ecosystem. QuoteTrade licence fees are being collected annually as per the existing rules; there has been no change. We will review the MLA's letter and make a decision after consulting with the govt Maheshwar Rao, chief commissioner, GBABOX:Sajjan Raj Mehta, Trade activistThis has become a huge challenge for traders. GBA officials do not take us seriously. If they wanted to bring in changes, they should have held public consultations first. What they are doing will lead to the shutdown of an entire industry, which is unacceptable. The Central Business District will be the first to be affected. Have they even thought about the revenue loss this will cause?"SG Aditya, general secretary, Indiranagar Owners and Traders AssociationWe have been fighting this issue since 2014 and have submitted representations to HD Kumaraswamy and BS Yediyurappa when they were chief ministers. Trade licences cannot be cancelled in this manner. Areas such as Indiranagar's 40-ft, 60-ft and 80-ft Roads, as well as Malleswaram, Chickpet, Rajajinagar and West of Chord Road, have narrow streets where traders existed long before the GBA was formed. Cancelling licences now is simply not possible. If rules are to be enforced, the focus should be on regulating street vendors rather than targeting established tradersSantosh Kausthaubs, Gandhinagar Traders AssociationThis is nothing short of a mass killing—not just of traders, but of entire families and the network of people who depend on these businesses for their livelihood. What the GBA is doing is unacceptable. Rules are being framed according to their whims and fancies, and we will not accept thisPrakash Mandoth, president, Federation of Karnataka Traders AssociationThe new GBA rules for retail and wholesale traders in CBDs and extension areas must prioritise ease of doing business. The focus should be on developing local infrastructure—greenery, efficient waste management, clean and encroachment-free footpaths, parking complexes, and proper street lighting—for the benefit of customers, without reviving inspector raj. Rules must be framed through dialogue with traders' associations, not in boardrooms. Long-pending issues from the BBMP era, unresolved for over 20 years, must be addressed first. Implementation should follow consultation, not arbitrary enforcement. Traders have existed here for over 150 years, and non-food businesses that pose no public health risk should not be targeted merely for revenue mobilisation