Footpath encroachers to be evicted soon

Thiruvananthapuram: The town planning standing committee, which has begun issuing notices over parking violations at major commercial complexes and institutions, has directed the engineering wing to remove all encroachments, mostly belonging to street vendors, on footpaths.
The previous council meeting had approved the town planning standing committee’s proposal to release funds to remove unauthorised structures jutting onto the footpath and roads.
The street vendors who have occupied RKV road, the stretch between Museum police station and Kanaka Nagar, will also be rehabilitated as part of opening up space for implementing a project under the smart city scheme. As part of the scheme, vending zones would be established on RKV road at a cost of Rs 2.7 crore.
The problem posed by street vendors had led to a heated debate in the council with various councillors and mayor K Sreekumar admitting the existence of a network, which helps the street vendors operate unauthorizedly in the city.
Sreekumar has said that individuals owning multiple bunks run the businesses making use of local and migrant labourers.
BJP councillor Karamana Ajith has alleged that one of the persons who has been allotted street vending space, rents out shops and commercial spaces in the city and that eligible beneficiaries were being denied opportunities.
The town planning wing had earlier completed compilation of data on road and footpath encroachers, parking violations and unauthorised constructions in the city.
Major violations regarding encroachment of footpaths were found in locations coming under Fort, Ulloor and Kadakampally areas. Nearly 150 violations have been found in these areas. Footpath encroachments have been also reported from Pettah, Perunthanni, Chalai and Fort areas.