Encroachments along flyovers, Metro pillars persist in Faridabad

Tribune News Service

Faridabad, August 27

Encroachments in the form of illegally parked vehicles and vendors under flyovers and along the national highway (NH) and the expressway have been flourishing. This has not only hampered the movement of vehicles but also increased illegal occupations on government-owned lands in the city.

Chaos prevails

The parking of vehicles in an unauthorised manner and the presence of vendors under the flyovers not only lead to chaos and traffic blockades, but also increase the risk of accidents due to

the congestion. — Vishnu Goel, A resident

“The 2.5 km-long elevated flyover on the NH-19, passing through Ballabgarh, is one of the passages which has become a hotspot for encroachments as hundreds of vehicles, including buses and private taxis, are seen parked under the flyover throughout the day,” said Narender Sirohi, an area resident. He said the open space under the flyover, including that of the Metro pillars should be used for enhancing the greenery to provide a clean and green environment and to compensate the loss of greenery due to its construction.

However, the land stands encroached by those who have been running commercial activities in view of the inadequate measures taken by the local administration here.

Dhabas, vehicle dealers, auto mechanics, fruits sellers and vendors have occupied the space under the Metro pillars or flyovers, resulting in traffic snarls, Sirohi added. The Delhi- Mumbai Expressway, railway track and the NH-19 are no exception, according to sources.

“The parking of vehicles in an unauthorised manner and the presence of vendors under the flyovers not only lead to chaos and traffic blockades but also increase the risk of accidents due to the congestion,” said Vishnu Goel, another resident.

He said if timely action was not taken, the encroachments might become permanent as these had occurred at many places like on the Neelam chowk-Ajronda flyover, Bata flyover and the Badkhal flyover, where the encroachments had turned into permanent slum colonies or shanties having a population of several thousands. As such, encroachments had come up several years ago and the lack of preventive action resulted in making these a permanent feature, sources said.

With the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officials taking up the matter of encroachments on the service lane of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway with the civic administration, it was reported that dumping of garbage was yet to come to an end. The lack of proper coordination between various agencies of the district administration, such as the Municipal Corporation, Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran and the NHAI, could be responsible for encroachments on such a scale, an

official said.

Birender Kardam, Chief Engineer, Faridabad Municipal Corporation, said action against the encroachments was taken up at regular intervals.