Bengaluru: Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday said the government has cleared encroachments along 430 km of footpaths in Bengaluru since July 1 as part of the Greater Bengaluru Authority's (GBA) safe footpath campaign.On a tour of the city reviewing the impact of the drive Shivakumar said the initiative would be extended across all five city corporations. "A cleaner, safer and more walkable Bengaluru is our commitment," he told reporters.Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda has been leading the campaign to reclaim footpaths for pedestrians.The CM said the GBA has, so far, acted on 1,340 shops and 1,800 pushcarts occupying footpaths. While pushcart vendors were allowed to remove their carts voluntarily, officials cleared 2,267 illegal metal extensions attached to shops, demolished 2,300 steps and ramps, removed 2,662 pillars and dismantled 2,247 temporary sheds.Shivakumar said the government would resume issuing identity cards to street vendors and earmark designated vending zones while protecting their livelihood in accordance with Supreme Court directions.More than 900 pedestrians have lost their lives in Bengaluru over the past three years, he said, attributing many of the fatalities to encroached and congested footpaths that force people onto roads.The government will expand the campaign to remove abandoned vehicles from footpaths. So far, the GBA has cleared thousands of encroachments in front of commercial establishments and removed 9,878 other encroachments across the city. Repair and upgrading of footpaths are also under way to make them safer and more pedestrian-friendly, he said.Shivakumar also said the government had information about organised groups and rowdy elements allegedly extorting money from street vendors. Police and GBA officials have been given a free hand to act against such networks, he said, adding that cleaning up Bengaluru remained a priority as the city was under national scrutiny.