Road encroachments ruin urban landscape

Footpaths, avenues, and streets remain cluttered with unauthorised kiosks and illegally parked vehicles

PESHAWAR:

Regardless of how picturesque the natural landscape of an area is, its overall vibe depends to a great extent on the organization of urban life therefore, when road encroachments start appearing at every nook and corner of metropolitan cities like Peshawar, honking cars and hollering hawkers cast an ugly shadow over the aesthetic appeal of the business centre.

Despite periodic crackdowns by the district administration and relevant authorities to curb the problem of encroachments, footpaths, avenues and streets in Peshawar remain cluttered with unauthorized kiosks and illegally parked vehicles, which result in incessant traffic jams, hindering citizens’ mobility through the city.

Suleman Khan, a student at the University of Peshawar, shared his frustration with the frequent traffic jams caused by encroachments on service roads and footpaths, which disrupted his routine commutes. “Me and my fellow classmates have been forced to navigate through congested streets, which extend the duration of our commute. This has adversely affected our academic pursuits and daily routines,” lamented Khan.

Asad Durani, another local lamented the transformation of his city from a picturesque urban centre to a congested metropolis dominated by encroachments. “The encroachment mafia has entrenched itself within the city, exploiting loopholes in law enforcement and profiting from illegal occupation of public spaces,” added Durani.

Master Khalid, a seasoned educator, highlighted the adverse effects of encroachments on the traffic flow of major thoroughfares and commercial areas. “Pedestrian safety is also compromised due to the presence of obstructions on footpaths,” he added.

On the other hand, law enforcement agencies continue to grapple with the complexities of addressing encroachments effectively. A traffic police officer, speaking on the condition of anonymity, shed light on the difficulties encountered in enforcing regulations and removing road blockers.

“Even the residential areas in Peshawar have become commercial hubs with innumerable new shops and plazas. Billions of rupees are spent constructing the commercial plazas but not a single car parking basement is made available. Influential individuals often refuse to abide by the law. Moreover, when we ask the encroachers to remove their setups they accuse us of unfair treatment. Broader societal support and political will is required for combatting encroachments effectively,” opined the officer.

The officer’s claims hold value since after a notice from the Supreme Court the local authorities had embarked on a campaign to remove encroachments from public spaces, but the initiative had faced significant challenges in implementation, as many shopkeepers and individuals continued to assert their ownership over footpaths, converting them into makeshift extensions of their businesses or parking lots for personal vehicles.

Speaking to the Express Tribune, Zubair Ali, Mayor of Peshawar, acknowledged the persistent nature of the encroachment problem and reiterated the government’s commitment to addressing it. “Inter-agency cooperation and the establishment of a dedicated task force is crucial for ensuring accountability in tackling encroachment. Many departments including the Traffic Police, TMA, District Administration, Cantonment Board and Provincial Development Authority (PDA) are working together on curtailing encroachments,” said Ali.

Despite the ongoing challenges, there remains a glimmer of hope that concerted action and community engagement can gradually alleviate the scourge of encroachments and restore Peshawar to its former glory.

In this regard, repeated attempts were made to contact the Deputy Commissioner of Peshawar to take his stance on the encroachment problem but the official failed to respond.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 6^th, 2024.