Unauthorised juice, vegetable and fruit stalls on wheels have come up along the Kowdiar-Vellayambalam road, making it difficult for pedestrians to walk along the stretch and marring the beauty of the Sree Chitra Avenue that was developed under the City Road Improvement Project (CRIP).
Over half-a-dozen vendors have colonised the vantage points along the footpath of the 1.2-km six-lane stretch.
They have avoided the left side of the road as the official residence of the Labour and Excise Minister; that of the aide-de-camp to the Governor; the Farm Information Bureau; and the Women's Club are located here.
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The footpath along the Belhaven Palace-Kowdiar stretch is the most sought after by the vendors. In addition to those selling fruits, vegetables and fresh juice, those who have encroached on the footpath include sellers of helmets, visors, sunglasses, comfy chairs and lotteries. Often, they park the goods vehicles across the paved footpath to display their wares, forcing the pedestrians to walk on the road.
Vans arrive from far-flung areas of the district to sell raw mangoes, watermelons, pineapples and dates. Vehicle dealers use the bus bays on the stretch and the footpath to display their new cars and motorcycles. Mobile advertisement vans illegally park the vehicles on the stretch, obstructing traffic. Many drive the vehicles right on to the paved footpath. The absence of railings on the stretch has proved to be a blessing for these entrepreneurs and those who illegally park their vehicles on the footpath.
Local people say most of the vendors thrive on the patronage of the local police and the civic authorities.
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Road users say the vendors dump waste on the footpaths, in drains and on the road, forcing early morning joggers and other pedestrians to skip the footpath and move through the busy carriageway.
Vendors who had encroached on the footpaths on the stretch were cleared nine years ago with much difficulty. They were re-located near the mouth of Golf Links Road. Over half-a-dozen vendors still do business there by selling fruits, vegetables and tender coconut. “If the authorities do not take action against those doing business on the main road, there are chances of those who were removed nine years ago shifting to the footpath on the stretch,” a resident says.
Numbers on the rise
With the police, the civic authorities and the Thiruvananthapuram Road Development Company Ltd. authorities failing to initiate action against the vendors, their number is on the increase.
The utilities agencies have also not spared the footpaths on the stretch. The unused slender concrete tiles for covering the underground cables of the Kerala State Electricity Board are still lying on the footpath near the Kowdiar bus station. A cable drum has also been left on the footpath near Aqua Towers.
Similar is the case with the footpath along the West Fort-Enchakkal stretch, which was also developed under the CRIP. Vendors selling fruits and fresh juice have cornered vantage points on the stretch.