Encroachment removal drives leave Hyderabad footpaths unsafe for pedestrians

Although civic authorities have removed encroachments from footpaths across Hyderabad, residents say the failure to clear debris and restore pavements has left pedestrians struggling. Encroachments have also reportedly reappeared in several locations, raising concerns over the effectiveness of the drives.

Hyderabad: Miles and miles of road sides in the city are being declared as clear of encroachments, but the exercise of removing these encroachments is failing to restore space either for pedestrians or motorists.

Across the civic bodies of GHMC, CMC and MMC, special drives are being held, and hundreds of encroachments on footpaths are being removed. But lacking a clear restoration strategy, these drives have left the spaces littered with debris from demolition drives, fallen pillars, and uncarpeted roads and unpaved footpaths, not being helpful for citizens.

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Pedestrians lament that though cleared of encroachments, the road corners are filled with debris and hardly useful for them. “Why don’t the authorities, immediately on demolition of encroachments, follow up with strengthening the road and laying proper pavements?” questioned Radheshyam at Gopanpally.

Engineering officials in the CMC took up removal and demolition of encroachments on footpaths under the ‘ Walk-Free’ initiative and cleared several kilometres of footpaths while warning the encroachers of stern action if the footpaths are re-encroached. Pedestrians in Gachibowli areas complain that after the footpaths were cleared, the officials failed to rebuild and make them convenient for pedestrians.

The leftover debris and demolished material were also not lifted, resulting in pedestrians not being able to walk freely on the footpaths. A similar situation can be seen in GHMC and MMC limits, too.

At several places, roadside kiosks spring back within days. At Afzalgunj bus stop, encroachments were removed by GHMC a few months ago, but encroachments are back, and businesses resumed.