Drive planned against misuse of footpaths

THIRUVANATHAPURAM: The State Road Safety Authority has decided to go all out against the footpath traders and vehicles parked on footpaths in order to protect the footpaths in the capital, many of which have been beautified recently with interlocking tiles.“We have decided to check all illegal encroachments on footpaths. The drive will be implemented in the capital immediately, which will subsequently be introduced in all other places across the State,” Transport Commissioner T P Senkumar told City Express.An auditing will be carried out to find out the places affected by encroachments, thereby causing hindrance to  pedestrians using the footpaths. A notice will be issued to the encroachers to vacate the premises and if the owner fails to do the same within the stipulated time, the encroachment would be cleared by the authorities and the expenses incurred will have to be borne by the property owner. Moreover, a fine will be slapped on the property owner or the encroacher.“The footpath encroachments are no new menace. The problem is more severe especially in those places which have been beautified recently. The people will have to develop a culture not to use footpaths for any other purpose other than walking. The initiative will be implemented with the help of Police Department,” said Transport Department Principal Secretary Tom Jose.“The police would seek the cooperation from the public for cleansing the menace. We may not take punitive measures in one stroke, but will try to seek cooperation from the public first,” DGP Jacob Punnoose told City Express.The review meeting of the Road Safety Authority which met here last week had also decided to install 190 surveillance cameras, including both speed and fixed cameras, in the city. The decisions were taken by the executive committee of the KRSA chaired by the Chief Secretary and with its members Principal Secretary of the Transport Department, Transport Commissioner, Inspector General of Police (Traffic), Chief Engineer (Roads and Bridges), Chief Engineer (National Highways), Director of Health Services Department and Director of National Transportation, Planning and Research Centre.