Pavements Oct 13th: New structures come up

On Oct 11th, the green tree on the pavement had a structure built around it. Was anybody concerned? Not to my knowledge. I have mailed the Additional commissioner of Police, ( Mr. Kaumudi) on Oct 15th and yet no response from the police department. One wonders, how a structure on the main road escapes the notice of the authorities? Or does it really escape them? I have on Oct 16th mailed the commissioner of GHMC ( Mr. Sarma). Hope to get a reply from him.

Pavements or Parking Space, Does Anyone Care?

Is there a pavement in front of the mobile store? Your guess is as good as mine. This store was opened only a year ago without any arrangements for parking. Why have parking space when the entire pavements are there to park?

Is this a pavement? God help us!!!

Imagine!!! This is the pavement right next to Rhythu bazaar (a place where farmers sell their produce directly to customers). This bazaar is closed on Tuesdays and these farmers sit on these pavements and sell their produce.
Is the sense of hygiene missing completely? Or is it the fact that only the poor come here to buy and the total indifference to the health of the poor?

Photographs of the pavement Oct 8th 2007 and Oct 12th 2006

The last photograph was taken by me on Oct 12th 2006 and submitted to the Municipal Commissioner of Hyderabad on Oct 24 2006 along with several others of the same area. The first two were taken on Oct 8th 2007 and the comparison clearly shows how a travel group has taken over the complete pavement where earlier he had occupied a part of the road. This despite the fact that the pavements are along the main road leading from Mehdipatnam to Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital. The question is, 'Where can people walk?'

MCH comm: Oct 24th 2006, Pavements in Mehidipatnam ( Hyderabad)

From
Kanthimathi Kannan

Date: Oct 24th 2006

The Municipal Commissioner
Hyderabad


Sub: Pavements in Mehdipatnam

Respected Sir
Let me on behalf of all the residents of the Mehdipatnam area thank you for providing us with a very beautiful Foot over Bridge. Unfortunately this is not much used and everyone crosses the road as per his or her wishes.
I had on February 5th, 2005 and Sept 27th 2005 given letters regarding the appalling conditions of the pavements in Mehdipatnam. There have been several drives to clear pavements in the past year to clear the pavements of encroachments but none of them have really worked. For example, in Dec 2005, when there was a Congress Session at Gachibowli stadium, all the pavements were cleared and the roads looked really broad and clean too.

What is the real issue of the pavements?
In some places it is wide but people urinate on it and also on the road there are a number of vans/ cars that are parked all the time and the pedestrians are put to a lot of trouble. (Exhibit 1, 2)
In some places as shown in the photographs (Exhibit 3), it is occupied by vendors
The bus stops are very crowded and hence people are forced to use the road as a pavement.
The pavements are also used as parking lots. (Exhibits 4, 5 and 6)
There are new constructions coming up in the area that do not have proper parking space. These new constructions in the past year include huge buildings that have the HDFC bank, ICICI bank, Railway reservation counter among others. What happens is that since there is not adequate space for parking inside these complexes, vehicles take up the road space to park. This in turn leads to a lot of confusion on the road.
The pavements also have dangerous electrical equipment.
MCH has built urinals but there are no pavements alongside it


Why do we need pavements?
For walking safely
More people will use the public transport system if pavements are made safe and walk able. Studies have shown that Hyderabad is among the few cities where usage of the public transport system is dropping each year. This results also in a rise in private vehicles that in turn leads to higher pollution levels.

Sir, could you kindly look into the matter and make the pavements of Mehdipatnam ‘walk able’?



Thanking You

Yours faithfully

Kanthimathi Kannan


Enclosures: Letters sent to MCH (dated Feb 5th 2005 and Sept 27th 2005); also photographs taken in Mehdipatnam area.