Corporation and cops turn a blind eye as vendors usurp sidewalk in Egmore

A walk along the road reveals that a variety of stalls, selling anything from tea to garments, line the pavement. As one turns to the road from the Egmore station, the pavement, dotted with commercial outlets, is a picture of neglect too. The walkway is all cracked up and the tiles are ajar, posing an inconvenience and even a safety hazard to pedestrians. 

‘Experienced’ commuters are often seen hopping and leaping over the broken tiles. Inquiries revealed that a majority of these vendors were unauthorised and had no valid commercial licences and requisite permits. They made a brisk business, especially during evening hours, people said. 

With the Egmore railway station right across, thousands of passengers rush past this road to take trains and often have to criss-cross two-wheelers, cars and even larger vehicles on the stretch. 

As the pavements are hardly available for pedestrians, they have no choice but to share road space with vehicles.While this is the case in the evening hours, the pavements are not this crowded from dawn till afternoon. 

Vendors return to their respective spots and set up their businesses after 3.30 pm. After 6.30 pm, another set of vendors occupy the remaining spaces as well to open makeshift eateries. They cater mostly to those taking trains. 

Sources said commuters, in their last-minute rush, often depended on these eateries for a quick bite before scheduled train time. Even though there are regular police patrols and many picket points, the law-enforcement seems unperturbed by the wanton encroachment of precious pubic space. 

Commuters said the pavement vendors were sometimes annoying as they beckoned pedestrians to buy their ware - fruits, garments and other things.

 Overall, the 150-metre pavement resembles a bazaar. The corporation has failed to evict such encroachments and take up repair work on the pavement. To add to the woes of pedestrians, people who take a tipple from the TASMAC outlet nearby usurp the stretch and sleep in total abandon. 

Many consume liquor on the pavement and leave the place with plastic litter and food waste. A vendor, who was busy selling snacks, told DTNext, “I set up this tea and bajji stall two years ago. My business starts at 4 pm and it picks up speed between 6 and 7.30 pm, after which I close my shop,” he said. 

When asked about permissions, he said, “if they come to check, I give Rs 100 to 200 and sometimes, they are just happy with bajjis and other savouries.” A couple of pedestrians, who were rushing to the railway station, said, “It is very pathetic and there is a swell of encroachments on the pavement. Officials should monitor this.” It is high time the officials took cognizance of the issue and evicted the encroachments on the pavement located opposite of one of busiest railway stations in the city.