Team Herald
MARGAO: The footpaths which were laid several years ago and inaugurated with pride have no one to look after them. The footpaths which were constructed and paved with interlocking bricks have given way at several locations in the town. There has been no attempt made to look into the matter and get them repaired.
Pedestrians and their rights have been given first priority in the Western states as well by the Supreme Court of India. However, no ruling can improve the infrastructure of the footpaths if there is no willingness to do so from the civic bodies.
Laid several years ago several streets in Margao town have footpaths but are in dire straits now. According to some former councillors, six years since the pavers were fit into the footpaths of the town, there has been zero maintenance of the same. All the sand below the pavers has got washed away and the pavers lie on the slabs of the drains beneath. Fear of the slabs cracking and pedestrians falling into them has been raised by several city dwellers.
Some of the footpaths in the centre of the town are so narrow that two adults can barely walk on the track and several have to walk on to the heavy traffic roads.
The footpath on the street towards the city bus stand is badly damaged and is unrepaired by the PWD for several years. A pipeline has been laid over the footpath without planning and restoration of the existing footpath.
The footpath near the Caro House in Pajifond has become nonexistent with all its paving stones gone and the edges broken.
Another major problem which has been seen on the stretch opposite the Hindu Pharmacy road is the illegal parking of vehicles right on the walking space of the pedestrians. Several tourists and people are forced to walk their way negotiating these vehicles. There has been no action taken against these violations till date.
Shantanu Naik, a pedestrian student, said, “The section of the footpath near the Bank of Baroda is broken and has developed an opening into the drain below. People and the hotels nearby are dumping garbage into the hole which piles up and chokes the drains during rains.”
Abhi Narvekar, another pedestrian, said, “We complained several times to the local authorities to get the footpaths near Loyola and Police station repaired but no one is bothered,”
When contacted on the issue, MMC Chief Officer Yashwant Tawde said, “The maintenance of the footpaths has to be looked into by the PWD. However, if there is a specific complaint by citizens, then, MMC Councillors get them repaired.”
Several pedestrians have demanded immediate repairs to the footpaths for the ease of commuting.
