Last updated 3 years ago

A lot of complains come from the pedestrian traffic in Visakhapatnam as the street-side vendors take over the footpath here.

Do you face the same problems as any other Visakhapatnam pedestrian who is rendered helpless by the lack of space on the footpath? Well then you are one in many who have been raising the issue that is plaguing Visakhapatnam. That of many a footpath disappearing under the vendors dotting the street-side. These vendors plying their business over the footpath range from makeshift shops and kiosks to hand pushed carts selling fruits, vegetables, knick knacks etc. A pleasure to many and pain to most, street side eateries that run over the footpath also create issues for a pedestrian.

These are illegal practices, so also are the many bigger establishments who have turned the adjoining footpath into a parking lot of sorts. The question arises here as to why the issue is not being addressed? Some issues that have come up from traffic controllers and as well as pedestrians in Visakhapatnam are these –

#1 After footpath development, not much is being done to check up on their condition.

#2 Lack of coordination between between civic bodies that are the stakeholders.

#3 Lack of required minimum parking lots in Visakhapatnam streets.

#4 Encouragement by local populace in giving business to the vendors who find it a profitable trade to ply their wares on the footpath.

A lot of problems across the length and breadth of the city are being reported, be it Dwarka Nagar, MVP, Asilmetta, Seethampeta or more. The increased number of vehicle traffic as well as increased usage of footpath by pedestrian traffic makes this issue in Visakhapatnam an urgent one.