BANGALORE: Following many complaints from the public, the BBMP finally cracked down on illegal encroachments which had mushroomed on the footpaths at Gandhi Bazaar. Starting from Monday night, over 100 policemen and BBMP officials were deployed on the 500-metre stretch from Tagore Circle to DVG Road. Many streethawkers had encroached upon the footpath on either side and the BBMP assigned three JCBs and 10 lorries to clear them. The officials remarked that the illegal encroachments had been causing problems to pedestrians, leading to many traffic jams. The area that comes under the Chickpet constituency in Sunkenahalli limits has now received positive feedback from the public, following this operation that went on till the wee hours of Tuesday morning. The Police Department, too, has lauded the effort claiming that this move would now solve the parking woes in this commercial location.