Delhi: In Kamla Nagar market, haphazard parking takes over walking space

The student-dominated locality of north Delhi, Kamla Nagar is probably one of the rare areas in city that are not encroached. But, it is one of those many areas that barely allow free flow of pedestrians, credits to the vehicles parked adjacent to the footpaths.

While some footpaths are encroached in the area by shopkeepers and eateries, others are too close to the vehicles parked. Because of this, pedestrians have to make way by stepping down the footpath and walk on the road.

Speaking to DNA, Ayan Sharma, a student of the Hindu College said that as one walks into the busy Kamla Nagar market, it is tough to identify where the footpaths end and where the roads begin.

“This is due to the illegally parked vehicles of people who has allegedly occupy the space, making it difficult for the people to walk. This market has become a hub where students come every evening either to eat or shop around. However over the with the increasing crowd, it becomes difficult to walk on the footpath,” Sharma said.

He further stated that people begging on the footpath also have made life difficult for a passerby and with the increase in footfall, chances of people brushing past each other increases.

“At various spots the hawkers and vendors have also encroached the footpaths and a lane of main road to sell fast food or fruits. While this has created problems for them to walk, the major concern for them is the snatching and pickpocketing that is committed on the congested pavements,” Sharma said. 

Talking to, Ratan Mehra, owner of a cloth shop in the market claimed that they have extended their shops and the footpaths are used to showcase their items. 

“We are in the market to work, however, if we do not show case how will we attract crowd. One needs to understand our side of the story as well. Senior citizen claim that we shopkeepers do not care, or we do not have civic sense but the my point is what do we do?,” Mehra said.

Recalling an incident, a 23-year-old Ananya Saikia, an MA History student of Miranda said that it was some two months back, she had come along with her friend to eat at around 8 pm on a Saturday evening when her phone was stolen in the crowd. 

“I was just walking to reach my favorite food point however it was too crowded and I was waiting for people to pass as the footpath is too small so had to make adjustments. After a period of time I realised that my phone was missing from my pocket and it has been stolen,” Saikia said.  She further said that since that day she always keeps her phone and money in her hand.

CRIME A BYPRODUCT OF CIVIC PROBLEMS

• Recalling an incident, a 23-year-old Ananya Saikia, an student of Miranda, said some two months ago she and her friend had come to eat at around 8 pm on a Saturday evening when her phone was stolen 
   
• Saikia said she was walking towards her favourite food point but since it was crowded, she was waiting for the people to pass as the footpath space wasn’t enough