Hawkers Return To IT Park Road, Undermining ‘Freedom Footpath' Drive
Nagpur: The much-publicised 'Freedom Footpath' drive by the
Nagpur Municipal Corporation
(NMC) and city traffic police, which recently cleared illegal hawkers from the IT Park Road near VNIT main gate, has suffered a major setback.
Just days after the encroachments were removed, hawkers have returned, once again occupying footpaths from Mate Chowk to VNIT gate.
Traffic police and NMC had recently removed over 2,200 encroachments in just five days, including from the IT Park Road.
A visit to the spot by TOI revealed a complete 180-degree turn from what it was a few days ago. During the recent anti-encroachment drive, footpaths and road edges previously blocked by unauthorised vendors were cleared, offering noticeable relief to pedestrians and easing traffic flow.
However, the change was short-lived.
Sheetal Waghmare, a student, expressed her frustration, stating that vehicles parked by vendors are once again causing congestion. "For a few days, the roads felt open and walkable, but now it feels like we're back to square one," she said.
Lalit Pal, a security guard at a nearby college, highlighted the dangers these obstructions create. He pointed out that, beyond the inconvenience, the encroachments frequently cause minor accidents involving pedestrians and two-wheelers.
A recent visit to the area revealed that most of the ousted stalls, food carts, and makeshift structures have returned. Footpaths are once again blocked, forcing pedestrians onto the roads. The edge of the street has become chaotic, with narrowed lanes and growing safety concerns for both commuters and walkers.
Encroachments near VNIT College have become a recurring issue. Students and security staff claim that while the area saw marked improvement during the drive, the order was fleeting and has since dissolved into the familiar disorder.
Speaking to TOI, Sanjay Kamble, assistant superintendent of NMC's enforcement department, said that as soon as NMC officials left the spot, the hawkers came back. "This is a recurring issue, we need to devise a permanent solution to this soon," Kamble said. He added that from Monday, NMC will intensify its efforts to curb such encroachments.
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