Damaged footpaths and broken railings present a shabby look
Work on improving some of the footpaths in the town such as the ones running along the Adam’s Fountain in Charing Cross and the Youth Hostel road, which is now in progress, has raised hopes among residents about the footpaths in various parts of this vacation destination getting a facelift.
While welcoming the work initiated, the residents said that the footpaths had presented a shabby look. They regretted that the footpaths in many other parts of the town had been in a state of neglect for years together.
Pointing out that in tourist towns the appearance of the roads and footpaths either make or mar their reputation, they said that the periodical exercise of sprucing up footpaths had been conspicuous by its absence for the past several years.
Expressing the hope that priority would be accorded to improving all the footpaths, they said that the damaged footpaths and broken railings had for long constituted a sad commentary on the civic administration. If the footpaths continued to be neglected, the growing number of vehicles on the narrow roads would expose pedestrians to considerable risk. It would also subject motorists to a great deal of inconvenience.
Over the years, tourists also have been vying with the locals in complaining about the appalling condition of the footpaths. Apart from being damaged, they are also encroached on by the roadside shops and pavement hawkers. In some places, the footpaths have been converted into vegetable and fruit markets. Despite numerous representations, nothing tangible had been done to remove them, the residents said.
