WE THE PEOPLE
Illegal occupation of Srinagar City’s footpaths remains unchecked, continues to put precious lives of pedestrians to grave risks
Hence people expect new government to mobilize law-enforcing agencies to get encroachers and encumbrances removed to ensure safety to foot-travellers
By: M. Shirjeel
Srinagar: It is an admitted fact that among problems of power crisis, unemployment, unprecedented price rise of essential commodities, the new State government is also to deal with illegal occupation of footpaths in the city of Srinagar. These stand occupied by Vendors, selling garments, vegetables, shoes and other products. They have put lives of pedestrians to grave risks, who are left with no choice but to walk on the main carriageways, which are always full of speedy vehicles. People allege that the officials of Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Srinagar Development Authority and other law-enforcing agencies have either given them a free rope or are oblivious of the hardships to which the common masses stand subjected to due to highhandedness of the encroachers.
One is at loss to understand as to why city roads have not been widened and improved to cope with the unending vehicular movement so far? Even with launching massive development programs, the roads of Srinagar City continue to remain as these were some decades back. There has been heavy influx of automobiles, which has compounded the situation. The pedestrians are forced to travel on main roads despite heavy traffic flow. They are supposed to use footpaths, but these stand illegally occupied by encroachers with no one to evict them. The encroachers have covered the hydrants, located at various sections of the footpaths, which has increased incidence of fire hazards. The road fatalities are reported daily from one area or the other with no let-up in the situation. The latest statistical data establishes that such fatalities are on increase, with no sign of decline.
It is to be kept in mind that footpaths are provided to ensure safe passage for pedestrians and if these are illegally occupied then there is no room left for them to escape the road fatalities. In the city of Srinagar, the shopkeepers have also occupied major portion of footpaths by placing their merchandize.
The PDD officials have also erected electric poles on the footpaths, putting thereby obstructions to the free movement of pedestrians. It also needs special mention that the footpaths existing are not in accordance with the Indian Road Congress (IRC) specifications. There are specific guidelines laid down for their size and shape, but State Engineers have consigned these norms to flames. There is dire need for subways and more fly-overs at several sections of city roads. The authorities must understand that there is population explosion, but the roads have not developed in proportion to such explosion. Hence there is need for remedial measures to mitigate sufferings of common masses, who are confronted with umpteen problems since long.
“Even though the State government has been claiming to have invested huge sums of money in the road sector, but there has been no physical improvement and traffic jams continue to remain distinct features. We receive dozens of new and old vehicles from other parts of India daily, with no corresponding improvement in the space available for them on the roads. The city of Srinagar is already congested which bars widening of roads and as such there is necessity for adoption of alternative methods to solve the traffic problem. In crowded cities, subways and flyovers are generally provided to ensure free movement of drivers and pedestrians. These go a long way in minimizing road accidents,” said a group of elderly persons of Kashmir valley.
Hence people expect new government to mobilize law-enforcing agencies to get encroachers and encumbrances removed to ensure safety to foot-travellers It is equally high time that the officials of Srinagar Development Authority and Srinagar Municipal Corporation draw an Action Plan for de-congesting jams and provide sufficient parking slots to ensure free flow of automobiles in the city of Srinagar.
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