Kurnool: Influential political leaders and their supporters are occupying footpaths in Kurnool city and renting them out to small traders.
Such encroachment is forcing people to walk on roads, making them prone to accidents, apart from leading to traffic jams. In some areas, accidents occur because two-wheelers and other vehicles have no space to avoid heavy vehicles.
Kurnool city has 52 wards and around 6.50 lakh people. It is facing growing problems because of the unauthorised shops on pavements. Some of these shops have even extended onto the roads. During festivals and special events, roads become overly crowded with temporary tents and vendors.
Key areas, such as Nandyal Check Post, ITC Junction, RS Junction, Bangarupeta and Bellary Chowrasta are often choked because of encroachments. Vendors at times clash with pedestrians when the latter raise objections.
Traffic within the city limits is also increasing, exacerbating the situation. When pressure builds up due to frequent traffic jams, municipal authorities act against the occupiers, not those behind them. Leaders do not dissuade the pavement occupiers, as they are voters. Further, officials get their cut from encroachers. Thus, the traffic problem is back to square one after some time.
K. Mallikarjuna, a retired employee, said that there are some who rent out shops on footpaths by taking large advances and charging high monthly rents. No action has been taken against such people in areas like Venkataramana Colony, under the ITC Junction Bridge, and on the KC Canal Bridge. The situation has not improved in the last 10 years.
In a recent civic meeting, corporators discussed how to resolve the issue of road encroachments. Although officials explained what could be done, including forcible evictions, there has been no progress.
A traffic police official said they only clear encroachments when they block vehicular movement.
