Commercial establishments seem to think it is legal to use the adjacent footpaths as parking lots for their customers. Adding to these are the roadside eateries who occupy certain spots which make pedestrians walk on busy roads. The citizens say that it is the lack of coordination among the enforcement agencies which include the Greater Municipal Corporation (GVMC) and the traffic police.
An employee from Andhra University, K Srinivasa Rao reportedly said that the commercial buildings fail to provide its customers with parking spaces due to which they are forced to park them either along the road or on the footpath. The GVMC has spent nearly Rs 15 crores to revamp the footpaths in key areas right before the International Fleet Review in February last year. However, the citizens have failed to keep them in good condition after the event has been completed.
The GVMC commissioner, M Hari Narayanan during his visits have spotted the misuse of the footpaths at VIP road and Asilmetta Road. This illegal practice is mostly seen at Dwarakanagar, Dabagardens, Siripuram Junction, Maddilapalem, Jagadamba centre, Poorna market, Gajuwaka, Ram Nagar, Peda waltair, Seethampeta, Akkayyapalem, Railway new colony and Maharanipeta.
The CPM state secretariat member CH Narasinga Rao said that the footpaths are meant for the pedestrians but unfortunately, they are being used as parking lots forcing people to walk on busy roads. He also said that there should be an immediate plan made to stop this illegal practice.
The city assistant commissioner of police (traffic), K Prabhakar reportedly stated that most of the footpaths are being misused despite the several warnings given to them, and said that they are discussing with the GVMC to set up multi-level parking lots in the city. They are also planning on making the public aware of this illegal practice, he added.
While all that is said & done, there doesn’t seem to be a plan put in place for providing a separate space for street food vendors. The plan doesn’t even seem to feature on the agenda for now.
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