Hyderabad sources have stated that encroachments on footpaths have emerged as of the main reasons behind traffic bottlenecks in the city, despite a staggering 19,300 cases booked against footpath encroachers over the last two years and the problem continues to plague the city.
It is stated that encroachments in the city are on the rise in the absence of stricter laws even as traffic cops have registered a number of cases against encroachers at Begumpet, Sultan Bazaar, Mahankali, Charminar and Asif Nagar areas and these places continue to be the biggest bottleneck areas in the city.
Vinod Kumar Kanumala, road safety expert and founder of Indian Federation of Road Safety has told that footpath and pavement encroachments have a direct impact on road safety, pushing pedestrians off the footpaths and compelling them to move along with motorists on the road.
Meanwhile the City Police Act under which the encroachment cases are dealt with has no provision for imprisonment and the fine amount applicable under section 39 (B) of the Act is a mere formality and it cannot act as a deterrent.
