Encroachment menace in city

Pedestrians deprived of space on footpaths

Common problem: An array of vehicles parked outside a hotel.

The roadside brawl, between a Minister’s driver and the staff of a business hotel, over parking of a car on Tuesday has exposed the menace of encroachment of the arterial roads by the particular hotel and several such establishments causing inconvenience to citizens.

Tuesday’s incident near the Chennupati Petrol Bunk junction was not an unheard-of situation. Heated arguments over unauthorised parking space take place often near many commercial establishments.

Taking advantage of the poor vigil and lack of corrective measures by the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation authorities against road encroachments, many commercial establishments running in high-rises on the M.G. Road, Eluru Road and other major roads are making most of the road margins, footpaths and even roads forcing pedestrians to walk in danger zones.

Depriving pedestrians, called the king of the roads, of their right of footpath, the hotels, hospitals, automobile showrooms, apparel and jewellery stores, eateries and various other establishments have built ramps on footpaths.

Some of them use the footpaths as parking lots.

Tough task

“Walking on the city roads has turned a tough task for pedestrians. They are forced to walk in danger zones amid movement of vehicles while the footpaths are occupied by business establishments. This is not good for pedestrians and motorcyclists,” said Tax Payers’ Association president V. Sambi Reddy.

Mr. Sambi Reddy said the civic body must act against the encroachments.

Gandhi Nagar, Governorpet, Krishnalanka, Ramesh Hospital Road and One town are among the areas where encroachment of roads is often seen.