ISLAMABAD’S BEAUTY MARRED BY ENCROACHMENTS ON FOOTPATHS

[Salman]

Monday, October 13, 2014 - Islamabad—The beauty of the capital city is getting marred by the constant encroachments all along the roadside especially on the footpaths in most of the commercial areas.

Encroachments on roads streets and footpaths in different commercial sectors are on the rise creating problems both for the pedestrians and motorists.

Not giving a good sight to eyes, the shopkeepers have openly erected shelters and established stalls in front of their shops which are legally not allowed in any case.

It has become common sight in all the markets in the capital city that shopkeepers encroach upon pavements in front of their shops while vendors set up stalls on roads.

The illegal encroachments on pavements and roads are forcing pedestrians to walk in the middle of roads besides hampering the smooth traffic flow.

Residents despite repeated complaints are seem to be fed up with the uncontrolled or in some cases even unchecked encroachments in the busiest commercial shopping centers.

Muhammad Qasim, a resident of Sector G-6, said that he has lodged complain before the civic body to take strict notice of the encroachments in his areas but in vain.

The authorities concerned always claim to launch anti-encroachment drives which are mostly aimed at small vendors or stallholders, he complained, adding that big wigs always go unchecked.

The apathy of civic agencies is evident from the fact that shopkeepers in the markets of Peshawar More, Karachi Company, Aabpara, Faizabad, Bhara Kahu, and others have encroached upon footpaths in front of their shops without any fear.

A customer at Karachi Company market said that it had become almost impossible to walk freely in the market because of the encroachments all over the footpaths as well as on the roads.

He was of the view that the Capital Development Authority (CDA) is responsible to remove encroachments from the footpaths and roads but it has failed to do so.

When contacted an official of Enforcement Directorate of CDA said the authority launched anti-encroachment campaign drives to keep the roads and footpaths clear.

It was a wrong impression that the CDA was not cognisant of the situation, he said and warned the shopkeepers and vendors not to encroach upon footpaths otherwise strict action would be taken against them