Footpath encroachment: Hyderabad traffic police book 4 furniture shops in Lakdikapul

Hyderabad: Saifabad police filed a criminal case against the owners of four furniture shops for encroaching the road and footpath in Lakdikapul. Based on the complaint filed by Sub Inspector Saifabad Traffic police station, a case was registered against four furniture shops under Section 341 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The four shops booked include Royal Furniture shop beside the Mehdi function hall, Elegant Cane Furniture Shop, Royal Furniture shop beside AVM venture office, and Cane Interior shop. They were found to be encroaching the road and footpath from Ayodhya junction to Nirankari junction by placing their cane furniture items like chairs, tables, and other items on the main road and footpath which is actually meant for the pedestrian usage and free flow of traffic. Traffic police noted it caused inconvenience to pedestrians who were walking on the main road, which could be dangerous.

Saifabad police also mentioned in the complaint that the four furniture shops used to park their vehicles on road to load and unload their goods. This was restraining the traffic and pedestrians and causing jams in this area.

"Traffic enforcement will be focusing more on 'Obstructive Parking of Vehicles'. We will also book commercial establishments (both building owners and shop owners) for violations. Since there are thousands of such establishments (encroachments) in the city right now, we will go ahead in a phase-wise manner," Hyderabad Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) A V Ranganath said.

He said almost all footpaths are occupied and commercial establishments are without parking spaces. He said commercial establishments without any parking spaces are creating traffic problems. "They would be served notice first and then criminal action will be initiated u/s 341 IPC, 290 IPC subsequently," he explained.

Ranganath said that the first focus will be on the important main roads where there is severe traffic congestion. "We will also request GHMC to close such establishments which are running without any permission and creating serious traffic congestions," he said. He said Hyderabad traffic police have already increased the fines for various violations. "Habitual traffic offenders and those not paying fines in time will have to pay increased fines in the subsequent traffic violations. This will bring good traffic discipline in the long run," he said.