TIRUNELVELI
The effort of Tirunelveli Corporation officials to remove encroachments from pedestrian path on North Car Street in Tirunelveli Town was thwarted by encroachers on Thursday.
As the pedestrian path has been occupied by small vendors, movement on this narrow stretch is always a challenge for vehicle-users, particularly for those driving cars and vans. The problem gets worsened as police do not take action against bike riders violating the one-way system enforced on this stretch.
After repeated appeals from the public, the Corporation officials, led by Assistant Commissioner (in-charge) Geetha, asked the encroachers to remove their shops. But they opposed the move and picked a heated argument with the officials.
While 39 of the small traders told the officials that they had obtained interim stay order from the court against any move to evict them, others raised slogans against the officials.
“The officials should remove the encroachments from the pedestrian path, which are hampering free flow of vehicular traffic along North Car Street and also affecting the business of the shops,” said M.R. Gunasekaran, advisor to North Car Street Traders’ Association, even as the encroachers were raising slogans against the officials.
After a few minutes, the officials left the spot without removing the encroachments.
