In Karimnagar town, footpaths are being encroached upon by traders, causing problems for pedestrians

Karimnagar: Footpaths disappeared in Karimnagar town. Yes. You heard right. Pedestrians have to risk their lives walking on the road as traders have encroached on most of the footpaths in the town.

As part of the Karimnagar Smart City programme, the roads in the town have been developed as per international standards. Along with the construction of quality roads, footpaths have also been developed for the convenience of pedestrians. But the entire exercise came to a standstill as traders encroached on the footpaths.

While street vendors, pushkar owners, vegetable and fruit sellers continue to sell on the footpath, the owners of various shops are also encroaching on their goods.

In the latest development, some mechanics are repairing cars by occupying the footpaths of the Smart City Road. It is remarkable that even though this is happening next to the main gate of the District Collectorate, the officials are not paying attention.

Whenever the issue of footpath encroachment comes to the fore, the municipal authorities act harshly by removing some encroachments but then slowly forget about it. After a few days, traders resume their businesses on the footpaths.

To prevent encroachments, the municipal authorities have undertaken a special drive in January 2021 under the slogan ‘Save Footpaths’. Apart from removing all encroachments, the authorities warned of legal action against shop owners and other vendors encroaching on the footpaths. .

However, the drive and slogan were forgotten after a few days.

In January 2022, the issue came to the fore when four roadside traders died in a road accident near Kaman on Hyderabad Road.

The local MLA, then BC Welfare and Civil Supplies Minister Gangula Kamalakar, who was serious about this, formed a committee under the then Additional Collector Garima Agarwal to remove all the encroachments and ensure that no encroachments take place in the future.

But without much delay the situation started again.

On the other hand, people are also suffering as many owners park their cars on the roads. At Ganeshnagar, a large nala was covered with a slab. Residents of nearby apartments park their cars on the slab.