Nagpur's Pedestrian Walkways Disappear Under Layers of Encroachments
Footpaths across Nagpur are rapidly transforming into zones of illegal occupation, leaving pedestrians with no choice but to venture directly into fast-moving traffic. A recent investigation of multiple locations reveals that pavements have been virtually erased beneath layers of food stalls, makeshift huts, pushcarts, and temporary shops. What should be safe walkways have shrunk into narrow, unusable strips, creating a daily gamble for thousands of commuters.
Pedestrians Forced to Navigate Dangerous Roads
With sidewalks effectively captured by encroachers, pedestrians—including schoolchildren, senior citizens, and office-goers—are compelled to walk on busy roads. They must navigate through honking traffic while facing constant risk. In several areas, even newly constructed footpaths have been swallowed by vendors and roadside structures, reducing costly civic infrastructure to little more than decorative concrete.
The situation at IT Park illustrates a frustrating cycle. Civic teams conduct eviction drives every month, yet the relief is fleeting. Within 48 hours, stalls and pushcarts return, reclaiming the same stretches as if the drives never occurred. At Khamla Market, both sides of the road have been taken over, with footpaths disappearing under rows of stalls, carts, and parked vehicles. This leaves pedestrians stranded on the carriageway.
"The entire pedestrian space has been swallowed up," said local resident Abhishek Brar. "What's left is a road where walkers and vehicles are forced to fight for space every day."
Hygiene Concerns and Living Conditions on Pavements
On Maharajbagh Road, rows of makeshift huts and small stalls have sprung up along the footpath, with several vendors even residing on the pavement. These encroachments have virtually wiped out the walkway, forcing pedestrians onto the busy road. Commuters report that the situation has also created serious hygiene concerns, as some occupants bathe, cook, and relieve themselves on the footpath itself. This turns what should be a public walkway into an unsanitary living space.
Enforcement Challenges and Legal Provisions
A source in the Nagpur Municipal Corporation's Nuisance Detection Squad explained the enforcement dilemma. "Initially, we could only penalize encroachers for littering on footpaths as there was no specific provision to act against such vendors. However, since November 18, 2025, the list of offences under our jurisdiction was expanded, and a specific offence for selling food on footpaths was introduced. We can now impose a fine of Rs 1,000."
The official clarified that the squad cannot independently remove encroachments. "The actual removal of stalls or encroachments is carried out only after orders are issued by the zonal assistant commissioner," the source added.
Meanwhile, Sanjay Kamble, assistant superintendent in NMC's enforcement department, noted that the problem persists despite regular action. "We seize stalls during drives, but as per rules, these have to be released after a month. Even if we remove one stall, another comes up in its place," he said.
Kamble added that relocating hawkers to designated zones has proven difficult. "The town vending committee suggests developing hawker zones, but vendors move there only if they want to. Even when we provide space, many refuse to shift, fearing customers won't come. For instance, space was made available near Maharajbagh for Sitabuldi hawkers, but many of them are still reluctant to move."
Statistical Overview of Encroachment Cases
Data from the NMC's Nuisance Detection Squad reveals the scale of the issue. In 2025, 8,742 cases of littering on footpaths were registered across city zones. The breakdown is as follows:
- Majority cases—6,994—involved hawkers
- 1,314 cases were against shopkeepers
- 434 cases targeted larger establishments
The zone-wise distribution highlights areas with the highest encroachment activity:
- Laxmi Nagar zone recorded the highest number with 2,371 cases
- Mangalwari followed with 1,792 cases
- Dhantoli reported 1,130 cases
Other zones included Hanuman Nagar (943 cases), Gandhibagh (860 cases), Dharampeth (550 cases), Lakadganj (487 cases), and Nehru Nagar (301 cases). Comparatively, fewer cases were reported from Ashi Nagar (273 cases) and Satranjipura (35 cases).
This data underscores the widespread nature of footpath encroachments in Nagpur, posing ongoing challenges for pedestrian safety and urban management.
