MV I Ext: What are eateries doing on footpaths?
Welcome To CitySpidey

Location

MV I Ext: What are eateries doing on footpaths?

Pavements adjoining several housing societies in the neighbourhood are rendered useless, as vegetable markets and eateries encroach upon them.

MV I Ext: What are eateries doing on footpaths? The eateries on the pavement in front of Rosewood Apartments in Mayur Vihar Phase I Extension

Pavements adjoining several housing societies in East Delhi’s Mayur Vihar Phase I Extension have been encroached upon by vendors, vegetable markets and taxi drivers over time.

Residents of societies such as Samachar, Vardhaman, Rosewood and Aashiyana are left with no option but to walk on the main road, as pavements have turned into a hub for vendors.

The pavement adjacent to Ahlcon Public School, which until two years ago was used by schoolchildren, now has a permanent vegetable market. “The school management has made several complaints to the civic authority and the police, but no action has been taken. In fact, last year, Mayur Vihar police had launched an anti-encroachment drive and had removed all these vendors, but they have again come back,” said Anil Kumar, a school management official.

Right opposite Rosewood Apartments, eateries have encroached upon the pavement. Residents allege that these vendors are also a nuisance.

Sudha Shrivastava, president of Rosewood Apartments, told City Spidey, “We are not against vendors - they are working for their livelihood. But authorities should give them a proper area to operate from. If civic officials take the issue seriously, they will not only resolve the encroachment problem, but will also get a huge amount of money in taxes from these vendors.”  

Apart from these areas, City Spidey found that many other pavements adjacent to societies were in bad shape. Big potholes and open drains have made matters worse for residents. Blaming civic bodies for their slack attitude, Nand Kumar, an elderly resident of Mayur Vihar, said, “Open drains are the most fertile breeding grounds for mosquitoes. This leaves residents exposed to life-threatening diseases such as dengue, chikungunya and malaria. Why are the authorities taking not taking these issues seriously?”

When City Spidey spoke to Satya Sharma, mayor of EDMC, she admitted that encroachments have been a challenging issue for the authorities. "We are planning to frame guidelines for the vendors. Once they are passed in the house, they will be implemented. We have been discussing the issue," Sharma said.    

 

The fruit and vegetable market on the pavement adjacent to Ahlcon Public School