KARACHI: Annexed footpaths, roads common sight in Gulshan
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Dec 30: Various footpaths in Gulshan-i-Iqbal Town, including those running parallel to main University Road, a portion of Sir Shah Suleman Road and Sehba Akhtar Road, have been heavily encroached upon
, leaving no choice for pedestrians but to walk on roads amidst vehicular traffic.
A visit to different parts of the town would show that on the one hand, most of the footpaths along the major thoroughfares have been illegally occupied by shopkeepers, vendors, cabin/stall holders, hotel operators, etc. and, on the other, a major portion of an important and busy service road, running parallel to University Road (from Hassan Square to the recently-built pedestrian bridge) has been lying in a dilapidated condition since long.
The trend of encroaching upon footpaths and roads in the town has assumed an alarming proportion. Some people have even converted a portion of a footpath to a parking lot by erecting an iron fence covering the annexed piece of the state land near Hassan Square Apartments building, thereby forcing pedestrians to walk on the adjacent busy service road and risk accidents.
Besides, hotels and fast-food outlets which have sprung up in a large number on University Road have occupied almost entire pavement right from Hassan Square up to the pedestrian bridge in front of the Urdu University sparing no space for pedestrians on the footpath.
Operators of hotels and fast-food outlets have not only encroached upon the footpath by putting up chairs, tables and other paraphernalia, including sizzling pans, but have also been using the island between University Road and a service road to serve their customers. As a result, vehicular traffic moves at a snail's pace on the service road.
The chaos and confusion often prevails at this road as the waiters of the restaurants and fast-food outlets keep on shuttling between the pavement and the island to serve their customers sitting with stinking environment all around.
The waiters in their bid to lure more and more customers to their respective food outlet often run madly behind every vehicle that they think might stop and the occupants might seek some food.
The waiters' constant practice not only creates hindrance in the flow of traffic but often compels following motorists to apply brakes to avoid hitting the waiters.
A major portion of the service road usually remains littered with dirt and filth as the heaps of garbage dumped on the roadsides by shopkeepers and hotel operators are not lifted for days together.
Some hazardous material thrown on the service road has already caused considerable damage to it creating a number of deep potholes and craters and causing inconvenience to motorists and pedestrians.
Though the conditions on this service road turn into an intolerable nuisance every day from sunset till about 3am for the residents of the locality, as well as visitors and passers-by, , the concerned officials and elected representatives of Gulshan Town seem least bothered.
Similarly, major portions of the pavement and service road on University Road from the old Busy Bee Restaurant up to Al-Hilal Society have also been heavily encroached upon by shopkeepers and operators of the inter-city bus services.
The haphazard parking of jumbo-sized buses, not only on the service road but even on two tracks of the University Road, often keep blocked the movement of vehicular traffic proceeding towards New Town from Hassan Square.
Besides whenever tankers drawing water from the nearby LSR (Low Supply Reservoir) hydrant mingle with the heavy vehicular traffic passing through the University Road, the traffic almost comes to halt, causing delays and inconvenience to motorists.
Moreover, another footpath of the busy Sehba Akhtar Road which leads to Gulshan-i-Iqbal's Block 13-D/2 via railway crossing has been heavily encroached upon by shopkeepers, vendors, chicken sellers, etc., leaving hardly two feet space open for pedestrians.
Although unhygienic conditions often prevail along these major roads, service roads and on their pavements owing to their illegal occupation, the Gulshan Town administration has not yet chalked out any plan to remove encroachments and take action against those responsible for the permanent nuisance.
