Free for all : Footpaths encroached, Govt looks on

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 31 : Even as encroachment on footpaths for commercial and personal/private purposes has become more evident in Imphal, the Government is seemingly turning a blind eye to the act.
What makes such illegal establishment of roadside shops, hotels, motor and car workshops and keeping construction material on footpaths more problematic is that it poses grave risks to pedestrians and motorists.
With no space to walk along footpaths, pedestrians have no other option than to move on the road instead thereby increasing the chances of road accidents.
Pedestrians are being forced to move on roads instead as many footpaths at Paona Keithel, Thangal Keithel, Singjamei, Keishampat, Tiddim Road, Uripok, Sagolband, Khurai Checkon, Thangmeiband etc have been occupied.
Street food vending which is becoming popular in Imphal lately is not an exception to the problem as most of these vendors also operate their businesses by occupying footpaths and even roads at some places.
Notably, the market is busy during this time of the year as it is the festive season but people are  unable to use the footpaths as they have been occupied for commercial purposes in an unauthorised manner.
The Sangai Express interacted with some pedestrians and according to them footpaths are anything but for pedestrians to walk.
One of the pedestrians said that people seemingly take roads and footpaths in front of their houses and shops as their private property.
Many people use roads and footpaths like a garage apart from setting up shops and piling construction material and garbage, he said.
Stating that people are unable to use the footpaths as they have been occupied in a way that is not fair, he added that the problem is nothing new in Imphal but the Government has bene turning a blind eye to this.
He further said that many pedestrians have died after being knocked down by vehicles while walking on the road.
Continuing that traffic in Imphal is becoming busier day by day but there is little space for pedestrians to walk safely, he added that motorists often blame the pedestrians for walking on roads without realising the actual problem.
People who live adjacent to roads at many places in Imphal use the roads and footpaths to keep their construction material deliberately, he said and added that shops which sell construction materials also keep their wares on footpaths and roads so that people can see them.
It seems like there is no governance at all in Manipur, the pedestrian added.
Apart from occupying footpaths for commercial purposes, power transformers are also installed on footpaths with fencing at some places, he said and asked whether it would be the fault of the pedestrians only if they get electrocuted.
Police seldom take legal action against encroachment on footpaths and roads, he rued and added that the Government should take up necessary action to address the problem being faced by pedestrians.
It may be mentioned a CCTv footage of a pedestrian being knocked down by a vehicle at New Checkon went viral on social media in 2022.