Vendors take over city footpaths, LMC unmoved

Encroachments on state capital roads continue to cause severe traffic congestion, creating daily challenges for commuters and delaying emergency services, despite repeated orders from senior administration officials to clear the streets.

- Animesh Mishra

LUCKNOW:

Key areas, including major hospitals, railway stations and bus stands, remain heavily affected with little to no action on the ground.

During a Hindustan Times visit on Wednesday to some of the city's worst-affected spots, it became clear that encroachments are a persistent and widespread issue.

One of the most impacted routes is the stretch leading to King George's Medical University (KGMU). Vendors have taken over footpaths and parts of the road opposite the Trauma Centre, turning the area into a hub of street-side shops and waste dumping.

Ambulances heading to the hospital frequently get stuck in traffic, delaying critical medical care. A KGMU staff member revealed that ambulances often face delays due to encroachments and two-wheeler parking along the roadside.