How Rameshwaram Cafe encroached Madhapur road under GHMC’s nose, HC intervenes

Hyderabad: Traffic officer Anil Kumar could not hide his frustration over the gridlocks caused by the road encroachment by the influential Rameshwaram Cafe at Madhapur. Traveling on the Madhapur road stretch has become a nightmare for motorists and pedestrians. For hours they have to navigate the traffic jams to reach their homes and offices.

"The encroachment by Rameshwaram Cafe is causing traffic congestion. It is a safety hazard for both pedestrians and motorists. The traffic is not only bad during high traffic times or weekends, it is bad every day because two average-sized cars cannot move past each other without causing a jam,” he said.

Enter Telangana High Court. The impunity enjoyed by Rameshwaram Cafe seems to have ended. Telangana High Court has pulled up GHMC for encroachments and asked it to issue a notice to the Cafe for violating the laws.

Justice T. Vinod Kumar was hearing a petition by Shiva Reddy challenging the inaction of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) regarding the alleged illegal encroachment onto the footpath by Rameshwaram Cafe in Madhapur.

Reddy’s counsel E. Venkata Siddhartha urged the Court to direct the GHMC to investigate the complaint and issue a notice to Rameshwaram Cafe.

The counsel stressed that the encroachment would further impede pedestrian mobility.

RTI Application and Authorities' Negligence

Reddy's attempt to obtain information regarding the cafe's permissions through an RTI application was reportedly met with negligence by the authorities. The Court reprimanded the GHMC for failing to furnish the building permit documents to the petitioner, pointing out a lapse in compliance with legal procedures.

Legal Framework

According to Section 137 and 138 of the Municipal Act No.11 of 2019, no person is allowed to build any wall or erect any fence or obstruction on public roads without a license from the municipal authority.

The Municipal Commissioner is authorized to require the removal or alteration of any projection, encroachment, or obstruction that infringes on public roads.

Current Situation

Rameshwaram Cafe is adjacent to other eateries such as Sorel and Coffee and others. Unlike its neighbors, Rameshwaram Cafe's structure extends onto the road, restricting mobility between the roads on both sides of the cafe.

Local Residents' Opinions

Residents have expressed their concerns over the encroachment.

"The footpath is meant for pedestrians, not for business extensions. This encroachment forces us to walk on the road, or take a safe right into the lane beside the cafe, risking our safety," said Amit Bhatia, a resident of Madhapur, stated,

Conclusion

The Court has directed the GHMC to investigate the encroachment and issue necessary notices to Rameshwaram Cafe. This case highlights the importance of enforcing municipal regulations to ensure public safety and mobility.

Future Implications

The outcome of this case could set a precedent for how similar encroachments are handled in the future, emphasizing the need for strict adherence to municipal laws and timely action by authorities to address public grievances.