Commuters inconvenienced as vendors take up footpath space

Footpaths alongside roads in the city are being used for purposes other than their intended use, leaving pedestrians with no choice but to walk on the roads. Shopkeepers display goods, sell snacks, park cars and even repair them on the footpaths, treating them as their own private property. Some shopkeepers even rent out the space to street vendors, generating income at the expense of pedestrian safety and accessibility.

“While the government is spending a huge sum on improving infrastructure in the city, it is not concerned if the services are available to people in reality,” said Sukhwinder Kaur, a senior citizen. She pointed out that even prominent roads like Mall Road, Queen’s Road and Lawrence Road are affected, with footpaths being used for parking, selling snacks and displaying goods.

The stretch of Mall Road from Custom Chowk to Novelty Chowk is used for parking vehicles, while Queen’s Road from Alexandra School to Crystal Chowk is partially used for fitting accessories on cars and partially for parking. On Lawrence Road, footpaths are mostly under the control of shopkeepers, who display their goods and even offer ‘mehndi’ services.

Residents and commuters are frustrated with the situation. “Officially, Amritsar features in the list of smart cities, but in reality, things are far from being smart,” said Rakesh Kumar, a resident. He added that the authorities seem indifferent, and common people feel like living in a third-class city.

“It needs willpower and commitment to get these footpaths cleared,” said Kumar, adding that the legislators though are afraid of losing votes, and no official is ready to do what is needed the most.

Though officials of the Municipal Corporation organise drives to clear the footpaths as a matter of routine, the problem still persists.