Encroachments on footpath irk pedestrians

Charanjit Singh Teja

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 29

Movement of pedestrians outside the office of Deputy Commissioner (DC) is restricted as a major portion of the road is is occupied by the contractor for parking purpose.

The side space having interlocking tiles on the road outside DC office was spared for pedestrians by authorities but now norms are being ignored by the administration itself.

After the fire incident in the old DC office, it was shifted to Court Road, adjoining district courts. Now, the contractor has also shifted the site of parking, which results in regular traffic congestion on Court Road, besides inconveniencing pedestrians.

The contractor has been charging for parking vehicles on roads. Pedestrians put their lives at risk while walking in middle of the road. The stretch outside the DC office is already narrow due to construction of an over bridge.

Traffic policemen deployed at Kacheri Chowk never stop the contractor from using road as the parking site.

Vikas Kumar, resident of Mahal said, “I think administration is in slumber mode. Due to this reason officials are not taking any action in such situation. Pedestrians have no option except to walk on the busy road.”

Surinder Singh, a resident of Fathegarh Churian Road said, “Such menace is not acceptable outside offices of senior bureaucrats. It needs immediate correction. The administration must shift the parking space. Parking lot on road is not justified.”

Harpreet Kaur, a resident of Majitha Road said, “I am coming to district courts from the past few days. I find no place to walk. It does not look appropriate and ethical.”