The Pioneer 29.11.2010
Pedestrians helpless as footpaths occupiedPNS | Dehradun
The footpaths constructed by the local authorities in commercial areas like the Paltan Bazaar have become lucrative feature for the shop keepers and civic officials. While the officials and businessmen are profiting from the construction of footpaths, the people have continued to face the negative effects of anomalies in civic facilitation.
It is pertinent to mention that the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun and District administration have on many occasions in the past tried to remove the encroachment made by shop keepers on the footpaths and roads in the Paltan Bazaar and other commercial areas of the town.
However, due to opposition of the business fraternity with the backing of influential politicians, the authorities have so far failed to rid the commercial areas of roadside encroachments by the shop keepers.
In the meanwhile, sources state that the civic officials, police and shop keepers are profiting from the continued encroachment on the roadsides in Paltan Bazaar and other areas.
It will be recalled that some years ago, the MCD along with the district administration and police had removed the encroachments made by shop keepers on the roadside sewers in Paltan Bazaar and constructed footpaths to cover the drains.
However, so far the public has not been able to take advantage of the footpaths constructed in the Paltan Bazaar and Dhamawala area. Footpaths constructed in such commercial areas have been encroached upon by the shop keepers.
The roads passing through Hanuman Chowk, Raja Road, Moti Bazaar and other areas have also been narrowed substantially due to encroachments by shop keepers.
This is causing major inconvenience to the public and also for the police in trying to regulate traffic in such areas which have become notorious for chronic traffic congestion. In spite of this the authorities have remained helpless and are unable to take necessary action to rid the roads of commercial encroachments.
