Telangana High Court orders crackdown on illegal parking, pavement encroachments

The Telangana High Court has directed civic and traffic authorities to intensify action against illegal parking and pavement encroachments in Hyderabad after citizens raised concerns over shrinking road space, blocked footpaths, worsening traffic congestion, and increased risks for pedestrians and emergency vehicles.

Hyderabad: Spaces meant for pedestrians and roads earmarked for vehicles have been shrinking with unhindered illegal parking and encroachments on pavements on several busy road stretches of the city.

Citizens have been lamenting at many road stretches having lost nearly half their width, severely affecting movement of commuters, buses and emergency vehicles.

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Pedestrians are also being forced to walk on roads due to blocked footpaths, increasing the risk of accidents and adding to traffic chaos, especially near commercial establishments where unauthorised parking is rampant.

Amid these concerns, the Telangana High Court had directed the GHMC, HYDRAA and Traffic Police to immediately intensify drives to remove illegal parking and clear encroachments from pavements.

The High Court also ordered authorities to install permanent protective fixtures on reclaimed pavements to prevent fresh encroachments and sought a detailed status report by June 9.

Traffic officials maintain that road encroachment and illegal parking areas are being checked regularly.

S Mohan Kumar, ACP (Traffic), Khairatabad Zone, said special enforcement drives were being conducted regularly against irregular parking and footpath encroachments.

“Whenever our officers identify such spots, necessary action is taken. We also carry out regular special drives to clear pavements and ease traffic movement,” he added.