Citizen Connect: Encroachment by shops and vehicles makes pavements out of bounds for pedestrians

Footpaths on Choolai Main Road in Periyamet remain out of bounds for the pedestrians as it is encroached upon by shopkeepers and haphazardly parked vehicles.

A narrow stretch of Choolai High Road has become the key route for motorists from all major neighbourhoods to reach the wholesale market on NSC Bose Road in George Town and Seven Wells via Mint flyover. As it is an important bus route road, motorists use it to reach Broadway and other areas via Mint flyover.

“Choolai Main Road is wide and has neatly-laid concrete footpaths. However, the space has been encroached upon by wholesale wood traders, turning the 40-feet road into a small pathway,” said H Jayakumar, a resident of Choolai. He and many others feel clearing encroachments on the pavements will ensure better movement of traffic and also prevent accidents.

Manohar, a Southern Railway employee who resides in the area, said there were numerous conflicts between pedestrians and motorists reported from the area due to limited space available for both the parties. The situation gets even more difficult when buses ply on the narrow roads, creating an bigger threat to the pedestrians, added Manohar.

The streets are crowded mainly because of the vehicles parked alongside the pavement. Footpaths have no space left to walk. “Every available space is either encroached by hawkers or by big shops who use the footpath to exhibit their goods. I strongly urge the authorities concerned to take action immediately,” said S Karpagam, a resident of Thattankulam.

The footpaths were recently revamped in the locality. But it did not take much time for vendors to occupy the walking space. The corporation has kept signages cautioning that the pavements are meant for the pedestrians only. “No one seems to care about those signs. They are going about parking their vehicles illegally on the pavements and shopkeepers displaying their products,” lamented Raghu, a pedestrian.

There are other tea shops, puncture and shoe repair units, too. Even after the authorities remove the encroachments, there are vendors who remove their makeshift shops immediately and set them up after some time,” said another pedestrian, G Revathi.

Despite various complaints by pedestrians and residents of the locality, the Corporation officials were not able to address the issue permanently. When contacted, the zonal corporation official said that they would inspect and remove the encroachments on pavements in the Choolai High Road.