Sir,
I refer to the letter titled “Privatising Public Footpath!” by K. Chandrahas that appeared in SOM dated Apr. 21.
The footpath is intended for pedestrians to safely walk and not meant for vehicles to ply or park on. On the Temple Road, Jayalakshmipuram, the tiled footpath is being used as a service road with scant respect for the pedestrians who are forced to walk on the road with great risk of being hit by speeding vehicles.
Of late, the parking on footpath has increased. This evening as I was walking home a car pulled up on the footpath and I had to tell the owner that the footpath was meant for walking and not for car parking. Even now as I write this letter a car has been parked on the footpath opposite my neighbour’s house [see pic.].
I had suggested to our MLA couple of years ago to have some pillars fixed on the footpath so that vehicles cannot be driven. I had also written to the Corporation Commissioner on this subject to make the footpath laid with paver tiles safe for pedestrians. Unfortunately nothing has happened and the situation is worsening day by day.
Under these circumstances I am of the opinion that what has been done on the 9th Cross is not to be construed as encroachment of footpath. However, it should be ensured that pedestrians are not at risk while walking on the footpath due to these stones.
I hope and pray that the Corporation will take steps to ensure that vehicles cannot be driven or parked on the footpath.
– A.K. Ranganathan, Temple Road,Jayalakshmipuram, 22.4.2019
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I concur with Mr. Ranganathan: footpath encroachment is a menace. Pedestrians are forced to walk on the road putting themselves in harms way. It is not only commercial enterprises who misappropriate footpaths, many educated home owners have incorporated footpaths into their property.
Privatizing the footpaths is a nonsensical idea. Footpaths belong to the public, the authorities should reclaim the encroached footpaths and make the encroachers to pay for its restoration.
The suffering public should force the MCC to their job by withholding a part of the property tax until the footpaths are restored. The citizens have the power to hold the authorities accountable, use it or lose it!
In Vontikoppal and other places the conservancies are already privatised .