Jaipur: In a glaring example of governmental double standards, state agencies themselves are the primary encroachers of Jaipur’s pedestrian pathways, raising serious questions about the implementation of the Directorate of Urban Bodies’ directives aimed at clearing pavements.From Saras Dairy booths to electrical transformers, govt installations dominate the list of illegal occupants on the city’s footpaths, while private encroachments including unauthorised parking and street vendors further compound the crisis. Urinals and kiosks built by civic bodies add to the list. The situation has turned so grave that several residential and commercial areas have completely encroached the pavements.“How can civic bodies remove these structures when they themselves are the perpetrators?” questioned a senior JMC (Greater) official, highlighting the inherent conflict in enforcement.The crisis has already claimed lives, including that of an IAS officer, yet authorities continue to turn a blind eye. Despite Rajasthan being among the few states requiring vehicle owners to declare private parking availability, enforcement remains purely on paper, with most vehicles brazenly parked on pavements.Urban planning experts have identified four major violations plaguing the city’s pedestrian infrastructure: non-compliance with width specifications, hazardous surface modifications by private building owners, govt installations and illegal parking. Despite multiple traffic control board discussions, concrete action to free city pavements remains elusive.The latest directive, though based on Supreme Court guidelines, faces scepticism from within the administration. A JDA official admitted, “We doubt how much it will be implemented,” highlighting the deep-rooted systemic failures in protecting pedestrian rights in the Pink City.As Jaipur’s pavements continue to shrink and deteriorate, the question remains: Who will bell the cat when the custodians themselves are the culprits?
Govt agencies main culprits in Jaipur footpath encroachment crisis | Jaipur News
