The State Capital, Dehradun, does not have footpaths along its roads for the pedestrians in most of the places in the city - a fact that is landing them in dire straits. Things are ns further compounded as much of what exists by way of footpaths have been encroached upon by traders, squatters or taken over for parking vehicles or expanding house premises. The absence of adequate space for the pedestrians along most of the city roads and lack of traffic norm awareness among them continues to cause inconvenience and traffic problems in the city.
The people are left with no other option but to spill out right on the roads, slowing traffic and spawning snarls. Accidents are also happening at regular intervals, thanks to the same problem-no space or shirking of space meant for the pedestrians to walk on.
“We are always nervous while driving lest a mishap happens. It is proving extremely difficult and risky too to negotiate the roads while being behind the wheels with people milling right on the roads,” said one of the vehicle users.
The hawkers are doing their trades from right on the roads, giving a short shrift to all the existing norms meant to keep the roads and roadsides unencumbered for free flow of traffic and for the pedestrians. Another problem being found now is adding to the woes of the people. Many locals are encroaching roads by expanding their homes right on the public roads, throwing the laws to the winds. “This is how things are going on, worsening our plight with those mandated to ease things for us hibernating,” said Urmila Singh, a resident of Vani Vihar.
lack of coordination among the officers of municipal corporation, district administration and police is resulting in the footpaths being encroached upon by shopkeepers, squatters and vehicle users for parking, Anuradha Negi from Nehru Colony.
When asked to account for the mess, the Municipal Corporation, administrative and police officials sound inclined to pass the bucks. Civic body officials said it is the responsibility of police to free the roads and footpaths of encroachments. Police officers said that such responsibility rests with the Municipal Corporation while the district administration officers said it is up to the Municipal Corporation and police officers to take action against the encroachers.
Earlier, Dehradun district magistrate Ravinath Raman had said on assuming charge that his priority would be to establish coordination among various organs of the administration. It seems, the DM has forgotten his pledge and the people are suffering as the thing has moved out of his mind, said Mahesh from Rajpur. Encroachment of footpath is being seen on EC Road, Vikas Bhawan Road, Rajpur Road and many other places.
A Municipal Corporation official said, “Everyone looks at us to rid the city of encroachment. We conduct anti-encroachment drives in the city from time to time. However, they crop up soon after we leave. Police are here to stop them from encroaching after they are evicted. But they are looking the other way, leaving things to us.”