Footpaths on Mominpura, CA illegal extension for shops

NAGPUR: Footpaths on Central Avenue (CA) and Mominpura roads are wide and neatly laid, still pedestrians jostle for space as these spaces are occupied by vendors and food joints.
TOI on Wednesday visited CA and Mominpura to find out the condition of footpaths there. The 3.5km stretch of CA from Mayo Hospital to Telephone Exchange Square is mostly occupied by shopkeepers.Most of the commercial establishments ? either eating joints or automobile spare parts dealers ? have extended their area ilegally. "Once shoppers start milling around, pedestrians find no space on the footpath and use the road amid heavy traffic," a resident Rohit Waghmare said.
Another major worry is illegal passenger vehicles and private buses plying to MP, Chhattisgarh and UP. These vehicles are parked on a major portion of the road near Geetanjali Talkies and Gandhibagh. "With encroachments on pavements, pedestrians walk on the main carriageway, so minor accidents are common," said Amit Sharma, a trader.
In Mominpura, the shopkeepers have not only encroached upon the footpath but have also taken over 60% of the road. "We urged NMC's Gandhibagh zone to remove encroachers but in vain," said residents.
The lax attitude of the anti-encroachment squad of the NMC, especially Gandhibagh zone, is causing hardships to residents of Mominpura, said resident and Shiv Sena vice-president (Nagpur city) Ejaz Galani.
Starbus service was discontinued between Mominpura and Kamptee last year due to encroachments in Mominpura. Residents from Ganjakhet said the traffic on Daga Hospital road has increased manifold while the footpath is serving as an extension for shops. "The footpath's width should be reduced," they suggested.
The roads between Seva Sadan Chowk to Timki Road T-point (Babbu Hotel) and Timki Road T-point to Golibar Chowk have been narrowed down due to encroachments on both sides.
A motor mechanic operates adjacent to the police post on the road near Seva Sadan Chowk. Vehicles coming to the workshop cover at least 10ft of the 40ft wide road. Illegal vendors have occupied the footpath in front of a NMC school. Illegal extensions have reduced the width of Golibar Chowk road from 60ft to 40ft. The Mohammed Ali Road too has not been spared. On Kidwai Road, the pavement from Golibar Chowk to Masjid Garib Nawaz behind Mayo Hospital has been encroached upon.
NMC's Gandhibagh zone officials and north traffic police branch collect 25,000 from each illegal vendor per month, sources alleged.