pedestrians forced off footpaths due to encroachment Food stalls, parked vehicles plague pavements on Wardha Rd

 

 

 

The initiative to promote pedestrian and cycling-friendly infrastructure on Wardha Road between Chhatrapati Square and Somalwada Square has unfortunately become a case of urban mismanagement. The raised pavements, initially designed to encourage safe walking spaces, have been taken over by food stalls. Meanwhile, the adjacent cycling lane, meant for eco-friendly commuting, now faces encroachment by private vehicles and buses. This stretch of road (which was once hailed as a progressive urban step) is currently plagued with issues that compromise its usability. Street vendors disproportionately occupy the entire stretch of footpath, narrowing the size of pedestrian space. And the spaces with no food stalls are occupied by cars parked by the residents.

 

Due to these encroachments, pedestrians have to walk dangerously close to the heavy vehicular traffic that the road commonly experiences. This is a disaster waiting to happen. The cycling tracks seemingly do not serve any purpose. There are hardly any bicycles to be seen there even during the early hours of the day when cycling activity in the city is at its peak. A few do express frustration over the many cars parked at frequent intervals in the lane. Yet, the authorities have not taken stringent measures against the violators.

 

The street-side vendors continue to operate without permission at the cost of pedestrian safety. Parked cars remain intact too. The authorities have failed to instill fear in the minds of those who violate the regulations in place. The citizens are demanding stricter enforcement of laws. On the poor condition of the pavements, Aniket Bhagat, a resident, remarked, “We were excited about this project. I remember thinking that the broad footpath design would not only aid everyday commuters but also be great for a late-evening stroll amidst all the traffic. Nevertheless, neither seems to be happening. Something needs to be done before this turns into another failed initiative.” Ram Suthar, a commuter who passes through the road daily, expressed similar concerns.

 

He said, “It is just turning out to be another initiative that looks great on paper but lacks execution. The presence of food stalls lead to people parking their vehicle on the sidelines of the road. This badly congests the road.” Another resident, Shreya, humorous commented, “Nowadays, you can see anything on the footpath except for people walking.” As Nagpur aspires to climb the liveability ladder and become a ‘smart’ city, it becomes imperative that such progressive infrastructure is thoroughly maintained.