NMC’s Walkable Street afflicted by encroachment, parking troubles

 

 

The ambitious project of ‘Walkable Street’ from VNIT to Bajaj Nagar sidewalk construction raises questions regarding the commute of the cars and citizens along the sidewalk. Design Wing of the NMC has constructed this first-of-its kind project for the citizens as a place for leisurely walks. Alpana Patne, Executive Engineer, Nagpur Municipal Corporation, told The Hitavada about the project. “We want to make a sidewalk that will give citizens a place to walk on , sit and spend their time in peace. We have added security to the path by adding CCTV cameras for surveillance, concrete chairs and benches to sit, and a toilet for the citizens. We plan to make this a city-wide project. All big roads will have a “Walkalble Street” which will be made without harming the already constructed road”.

 

“The project is first of its kind and the NMC will decide to replicate the project in other parts of the city after evaluating its success” told Alpana Patne. This ambitious project has already been afflicted by encroachment of Tea-stalls and food-stalls that have already started mushrooming on the side of the road and on the walking path of the newly constructed project. “We will make sure there will be no encroachment on the path,” said Alpana Patne. “We are facing the problems of encroachment everyday. We have also filed a formal complaint to the Enforcement Squad to get rid of them as soon as possible. But as we all know they keep coming back even after many warnings and actions taken”.

 

She said, “This problem will definitely grow if no action is taken. The stalls invite a large number of people who bring their vehicles with them which they park in front of the stalls reducing already motorable road width.” The project seems to have an impact on the road width and that raises the question of citizen safety. “The project, ‘Walkable Street’ is being made by following the appropriate guideline of the Indian Road Congress,” said Patne. The space for cars and other vehicles already seemed less but this project seems to be adding to the problem. Whether the “Walkable Street” adds to the recreational space in the city or proves to be another point of congestion for city traffic, remains to be seen.