Latest update:29 December 2025 at 6:09 PM IST

A large poster put up on Bellandur footpath in Bengaluru prohibiting pedestrian movement has drawn widespread criticism.

The photo shows a huge banner mounted directly on the sidewalk. (Image source: X)

A photo from Bellandur, Bengaluru, showing a footpath completely blocked by a large poster, has sparked fresh online outrage over the city’s public space problem. The photo, shared on a Bengaluru subreddit, shows a huge banner mounted directly on the pavement, forcing pedestrians to walk on the road to pass it. The post was titled “Blocked Crosswalks. Is Posting This Poster Even Legal?”

Within hours, it attracted more than 1,500 votes and dozens of comments. The original poster also shared that a complaint had been filed via X, tagging the civic authorities and marking the obstruction as a safety issue.

For many residents, the image became instantly familiar. Crosswalks throughout the city are routinely filled with billboards, parked vehicles, building materials and temporary structures. Critics said this crossed the line by completely cutting off pedestrian access.

Users say: “Legal if you have the authority.”

The comments section quickly turned into a broader conversation about power, politics, and accountability. One critically acclaimed statement summed up the mood: “The people in the poster have the money and the power. So, yes, it’s legal now.”

Another user wrote: “Legitimacy is a political word in India. If you have enough power, almost everything becomes legal.” Many commentators have argued that such labels exist because implementation depends less on rules and more on who is involved.

Others linked the issue to electoral apathy. “We, the people, elect and give them power, then spend the next five years blaming these leaders and repeating the same cycle again,” one comment read. He responded, calling the election a wrong choice, and argued that the results remained the same no matter who was voted for.

Why even this poster?

Legitimacy aside, many users were confused by the sticker itself. Many wondered why dozens of faces appeared on the banner when it barely conveyed the content of the event or message. “Why are there so many heads on it?” one user asked. “Is it for credibility?”

Another comment described it as “flexible,” suggesting that placement and design are less about general information and more about visibility and hierarchy. One detailed answer led to an analysis of what they called the political “food chain,” where smaller, local figures pay to have their faces listed alongside larger political bosses in the hope of being noticed.

Some users even joked that the actual subject of the sticker was almost invisible. “I had to re-scan the poster again to find that competition photo,” one wrote.

Frustration, sarcasm and talk about work

As the topic grew, frustration gave way to sarcasm and dark humor. Comments ranged from “It’s time to eat paan and spit on the poster” to “New opportunities for graffiti lovers.” A few users claimed to have seen similar banners placed under police supervision in other areas.

There were also calls for collective action. “Since these billboards are illegal, can we form a volunteer group to tear them down en masse?” one commentator asked, referring to what they saw as a civic failure.

For now, the poster remains a symbol of a larger problem that Bengaluru residents say they face daily.