Just a day after the Supreme Court declared that citizens have a fundamental right to walk on demarcated footpaths and that pedestrian rights must take precedence over motor vehicles, residents of Mahal say the road stretch between Agrasen Square and Chitnis Park Square presents a stark example of how those rights continue to be violated.
Footpaths turned into showrooms
The busy stretch, located barely a few hundred metres from the residence of Union minister Nitin Gadkari, has virtually turned into an open-air showroom for second-hand two-wheelers. Dozens of motorcycles parked for sale occupy footpaths and spill onto the roadside, forcing pedestrians, senior citizens and schoolchildren onto the main carriageway amid moving traffic.
The situation has become more precarious as the carriageway has already narrowed due to the ongoing construction of the city's longest flyover connecting Indora Square and Wathoda. Residents said people are now left with little choice but to walk amid speeding vehicles, particularly during peak hours.
Years of complaints, no action
Locals alleged that the encroachment has persisted for years despite repeated complaints. No actions were taken on the encroachments during the Mission 100 Days anti-encroachment campaign launched by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). While drives have been conducted at Badkas Chowk and other heavily encroached commercial pockets, residents claim this stretch has remained untouched by both the NMC's enforcement department and the city traffic police.
"Every evening, the footpath disappears beneath rows of motorcycles. We are compelled to walk on the road and dodge vehicles. If the Supreme Court says walking on footpaths is a fundamental right, then who is protecting our rights here?" asked resident Ashok Agrawal.
Impact on traffic and emergency vehicles
Shopkeeper Rajesh Bansod said prospective buyers often stop their vehicles in the middle of the road to inspect motorcycles, worsening congestion. "Ambulances and emergency vehicles struggle to pass through this bottleneck during rush hours," he said.
Another resident, Meena Khandelwal, said elderly citizens suffer the most. "My mother uses a walking stick and cannot navigate through parked bikes. The footpath is meant for pedestrians, not for commercial display," she said.
Residents demand action
Residents have now urged the NMC and traffic police to launch a special drive against the used vehicle dealers, questioning how such blatant misuse of public spaces continues unchecked in one of Nagpur's most prominent localities.
TOI attempted to contact assistant municipal commissioner (enforcement) Sanjay Kamble for his response. However, he neither answered repeated phone calls nor responded to text messages till the time of going to press.
