This story is from June 30, 2019

Pedestrians forced onto roads as vehicles occupy footpaths

Pedestrians, including tourists, are having a tough time navigating Sri Harsha Road in the city as the footpath on the 250-metre stretch has been encroached by hotels and commercial establishments for parking four-wheelers of their customers.
Pedestrians forced onto roads as vehicles occupy footpaths
Pedestrians risk their lives walking on the road as vehicles have been parked on footpaths off Sri Harsha Road in Mysuru on Saturday
MYSURU: Pedestrians, including tourists, are having a tough time navigating Sri Harsha Road in the city as the footpath on the 250-metre stretch has been encroached by hotels and commercial establishments for parking four-wheelers of their customers.
Though parking space has been provided on the right side of the stretch, people are forced to walk on the road, risking their lives, as vehicles occupy the pavement on other side too.

The stretch, located some 100 metres away from Mysuru Palace and close to Suburban Bus Stand, has hotels, cooperative banks, shops, eateries and a cinema hall.
MCC authorities have been claiming that they're penalising wrongdoers for occupying footpaths in the city, but Sri Harsha Road seems to not appear on their list, leaving pedestrians fuming. Vehicles are found parked haphazardly and one-way traffic rule, too, is not strictly implemented.
Same is the case on Devaraja Urs Road, Sayyaji Rao Road, Dewan's Road and Narayana Shastri Road where shopkeepers occupy footpaths to run their businesses, leaving less or no space for pedestrians to commute.
"Many officials have come and gone, but they couldn't stop people from using Sri Harsha Road's footpath for parking of vehicles," claims Ashok, a regular visitor. The argument of hoteliers and commercial establishments is absurd that people can use the other side of the road to commute. However, that side is narrow and dimly lit. Footpaths are for pedestrians, but the rule doesn't apply on this stretch, he added.

Moreover, when it comes to footpath clearance, authorities only target footpath vendors and spare the influential. MCC commissioner C T Shilpa Nag said they have been regularly penalising encroachers of footpaths and recently a shopkeeper was penalised on Nelson Mandela Road. If there are any such complaints people can approach MCC, she added.
Mayor Pushpalatha Jagannath told STOI that she has instructed all zonal assistant commissioners of MCC to ensure footpaths are cleared from any encroachment and facilitate pedestrians in respective jurisdictions. The mayor said she would soon be conducting surprise visits to check encroachment of footpaths in central business district.
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