Pimpri Chinchwad residents forced to walk on roads as footpaths are used for parking and encroachments

The footpaths meant for safe walking of pedestrians are used for anything but walking in Pimpri Chinchwad. The residents are bearing the brunt of the illegal use of footpaths as they have turned into illegal parking lots and are increasingly used by vendors and hawkers illegally. 

Despite numerous complaints to the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), the situation remains unresolved, prompting residents from Nigdi, Pradhikaran, Ravet and Kiwale to voice their protests.

Shantanu Morankar, a former resident of Nigdi who recently shifted to Wakad said, “When I used to live there, the hawkers used to put their stalls on footpaths and even though complaints were raised and actions were taken, it was never permanent.”

Moreover, an X (formerly Twitter) another user said, “No use of footpath after spending lakhs of rupees to build it, this is the worst on every evening and weekends. Need Marshals to stop all such encroachment for a full day.”

The alarming trend has emerged as wider footpaths are constructed by dismantling existing ones, while the issue of illegal parking persists unabated. 

A police officer from Nigdi Police Station said, “I will immediately look into this issue and make sure that the footpath is only used by pedestrians and not vendors and vehicles. Marshall’s will be sent immediately.”

With the city’s population swelling, the influx of vehicles is causing a parking crisis, compelling citizens to utilize footpaths for parking convenience. Consequently, pedestrians are forced onto the roads which can turn out to be hazardous. 

Footpaths, intended for safe pedestrian passage, now double as parking spots for vehicles, signages, vending stalls and handicraft businesses, leaving pedestrians with minimal space to walk. 

The severe situation underscores the urgent need for PCMC intervention to restore order and ensure pedestrian safety.