Citizen connect: Encroachments, illegal parking irk residents in Shenoy Nagar

According to Lata Gopati, a resident of Shenoy Nagar, the illegal parking near Thiru Vi Ka Park, which lies just outside her home, has affected her daily routine. Speaking about the change in her routine due to the civic issue, she said, “I have taken to walking on the terrace for my daily walk rather than going outside. Firstly, the vehicles lead to delinquent activities. There will be broken glass bottles in the place I wish to go for a walk. Secondly, the pavement is not done properly, so I am forced to walk on the road.”

The illegal parking takes up most of the road, causing pedestrians to take to walking on the middle of the road, which puts them in danger of vehicular accidents. According to police officials, this parking is being looked into. Regular patrols are being done in the area to ensure delinquent activity is stopped at the source.

Citing these issues, the residents have turned to the Shenoy Nagar skating park which is on the other end of Pulla Avenue for their recreational purposes. Yet the park also did not offer any respite,said Gopati.

“The pavement is always occupied due to encroachments by the food carts. This, coupled with the disorganised parking by two-wheelers, makes the area inaccessible for pedestrians, save for the entrance to the park,” she said, adding that this has led for parents to escort their children to the park for fearof their safety.

Additionally, these vendors dispose a lot of waste on the road rather than the assigned bins, causing further issues for the residents. “However, this is not only their fault. People who patronise these stalls must also be aware of their civic duty and dispose of the waste properly. This is the crux of the issues we are facing here. People have no civic sense to keep their surroundings clean, and that is further worsened by civic apathy,”she said.

According to a Corporation official, licences of these vendors are being looked into, and illegal vendors would be removed immediately. The appropriate bins also have been installed for public usage, they added.