People Welcome HC Order on Footpaths
Hyderabad: Pedestrians and residents in Hyderabad say walking has become increasingly difficult in many major commercial areas as footpaths are encroached upon by vehicles, vendors and shop extensions. They welcomed the Telangana High Court’s directions to take strict action against illegal parking and footpath violations.
From Charminar and Moazzamjahi Market to Ameerpet, Dilsukhnagar, Kukatpally and Secunderabad railway stations, footpaths are routinely blocked by parked bikes, temporary stalls, cars and commercial spills, forcing pedestrians onto busy roads.
“In Charminar area, people walk on the road rather than the footpath. Half of the area is occupied by vendors and the remaining part is left here by parked bikes and cars and they drive around,” said Mohammed Salman, who owns a fabric store near Charminar. He pointed out that just outside the High Court, the road leading to the markets was densely packed with vendors and parked vehicles.
Pedestrians near Moazzamjahi Market and Koti said roadside parking and commercial activities regularly clog internal roads and intersections, especially in the evenings and weekends.
“Vehicles are parked on both sides of the market area and people randomly stop in the middle to shop or eat. You can see a traffic cop standing there, but he doesn’t do anything about it. It’s difficult to even cross the road properly, forget looking for a footpath,” said Kavya Ranjani, who was in the area to shop and couldn’t find a way to reduce the footprint on the road.
Commuters near Secunderabad station, Lakdikapul, LB Nagar and Miyapur bus corridors said buses, autos and roadside stalls leave little walking space near bus stops and metro stations. “Large private buses occupy the entire area near Dilsukhnagar at night and during boarding hours. By 8 pm, only two or three buses stand together, leaving hardly any path for other vehicles or pedestrians. Traffic becomes chaotic within minutes,” said Ramesh Yadav, a shop owner in Dilsukhnagar.
Those living near busy food streets and shopping areas such as DLF and Sainikpuri said evening hours have become particularly difficult as vehicles are pushed deep into residential areas.
“People park in front of the gates and disappear for hours. Sometimes we cannot even take our own vehicle out,” said Lakshman Yadav, who lives near a temple in Old Alwal.
Some residents said they had begun placing flower pots, stones and temporary blocks outside their homes to prevent strangers from parking directly in front of their doors.
Residents in Kukatpally and areas near Lulu Mall complained that commercial activities often spill onto roads and footpaths on weekends.
Sai Teja, a resident of Kukatpally, said, “Bikes are parked on pavements, food stalls come up on the roads and customers leave their vehicles wherever they find vacant and to be honest we can’t blame them, they have nowhere else to park.”
Residents also raised concerns about commercial vehicles being parked in residential colonies overnight, narrowing road space in already narrow lanes.
