Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Dec 10: Some facilities that are made spending crore of rupees under Smart City project are not serving the purpose. One clear example of this is the footpaths in the heart of the city. Most of them are encroached by street vendors.

Vegetables, fruits and clothes are sold in most of the footpaths at Statebank, Lady Goschen, Hampankatta and Kankanady. Due to this, the pedestrians are forced to walk on roads which is dangerous especially for elderly people, women and children.

Separate place is earmarked for street vendors near Statebank. But none of the vendors are ready to shift there. They prefer footpaths and litter the place. Public say that the vendors put pressure on pedestrians even if they inquire them about the price.

The public are of the opinion that officials of Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) and elected representatives are behind the plot of allowing street vendors to do business on footpaths. It is the duty of MCC to vacate the footpath vendors. But since many months, the MCC is showing soft corner on the vendors and ignoring the plight of pedestrians.

No parking boards are installed on footpaths at K S Rao Road, M G Road, Hampankatta, GHS Road and Car Street. This is also causing issues for pedestrians. If public inquires with shop owners, they speak as if they own the footpath on which the no parking boards are placed.