Senior citizens’ safety at peril

Sir,

I would like to bring MCC’s attention to a serious issue of footpath encroachment and illegal damage on T.K. Layout Main Road, starting from the RTTC water tanks all the way till Kavitha Bakery. There are at least 8-10 street hawkers who operate near the RTTC water tank and have damaged the footpath to erect permanent and semi-permanent structures.

Due to their constant unauthorised presence from 5 am till 10 pm, buyers park their vehicles randomly leading to traffic congestion and blocks.

A more serious concern is that senior citizens and children have no footpath to walk on safely and are forced to walk on the busy road which is dangerous.

I was personally witness to a senior citizen falling down on the road due to oncoming traffic. It is especially bad during late evenings.

Apart from a public nuisance, this junction has now become a safety hazard. Both sides of the footpath are encroached by vegetable/fruit vendors, eateries and shops.

Going further down the road towards Kavitha Bakery, there are big tea shops that are set  up on the footpath.

Residents of the road have converted the remainder of the footpath to unauthorised parking spaces and some have even erected poles to provide themselves with covered parking on the footpath instead of providing it inside their own homes!

We pay hefty taxes to the MCC and yet do not even have a simple footpath to walk on during our later years.

Who has authorised these people to damage the footpath that is supposed to be used for walking? Why should the taxpayer bear the brunt of having to sustain free-loaders who encroach public spaces without authorisation?

Can the MCC please swing into immediate action and help senior citizens live a tranquil life in our city?

— A concerned tax-paying senior citizen, Mysuru, 7.7. 2025

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