Editorial
With the on-set of summer, both tourists and labourers have started pouring into the valley of Kashmir. The former to save themselves from the scorching heat of plains and the latter to work in different capacities, but one section of this category have started occupying footpaths massively in the city of Srinagar. The locals, who have been long-time encroachers of such paths, depriving thereby the pedestrians of their walking space, have encouraged them. ‘ Might is right’ has become order of the day as pedestrians are forced to walk along the main carriageways, which is not only risky but another encroachment on the main roads. Is it possible without the connivance and go-ahead signal from all those, who are supposed to look after footpaths and enforce laws meant for smooth traffic on the highways?
One wonders that even with launching of 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 have compounded the situation. The pedestrians can ill-afford to travel on main roads due to heavy traffic flow and 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 places along city roads. This has increased incidence of fire hazards and road accidents. The fatalities are reported daily from one area or the other with no let-up in the situation. The latest statistical data establishes that road fatalities are on increase, but who cares.
The footpaths are provided to ensure safe passage for pedestrians and if these are illegally occupied then there is no room left for the former to escape the road fatalities. In the city of Srinagar, the shopkeepers have also occupied major portion of footpaths by placing their merchandize. The hydrants provided by Public Health Engineering Department to provide water for fire-fighting purposes have almost disappeared and there is every apprehension of major fire with no water available to the concerned agencies. 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. Lately a fly-over for pedestrian traffic has been constructed across Moulana Azad road near Women College Srinagar, but there is dire need for more such 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. Therefore, there is need for alternative methods to ease the situation.
It is, therefore, high time that the officials of Srinagar Development Authority, Srinagar Municipal Corporation and Police draw an Action Plan for eviction of illegal occupants, both locals and non-locals, from the footpaths in the city of Srinagar. The officials of PHE must also rise to the occasion and ensure clearance of hydrants installed by them in the city of Srinagar. Once a joint strategy is evolved and implemented, the safety of pedestrians can be ensured.
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