People relieved at encroachment-free footpaths

Special Correspondent

SILCHAR, April 5: The pedestrians and citizens in general have heaved sigh of relief at the police drive to clear the footpaths along the busy and rrow thoroughfares of this town. The drive carried on by the traffic branch of the police administration still continues as some hawkers in some corners make desperate bid to again encroach the footpath, a little away from the glare of cops. The eviction drive, in fact, has been a long felt desire of people in general. That the law and order machinery has taken the bold step is no doubt a positive move.

 Such has been the mece created by hawkers dealing in varieties of goods from kitchen needs to bedroom, drawing room as well as of general daily requirements that pedestrians have a tough time moving through the footpaths encroached by them. Not only do they business, but also make use of the spaces of the rrow footpaths to make their customers buy and even go for bargaining without caring for who passes or needs passage to move forward. Virtually, the footpath users have to step down and take to the main road.

 What is not known to many is that most of the hawkers and their makeshift stalls are the extension of big shops. In the past too, several drives were made by the police on public demand as well as of their own, but could not be successful due to political pressure. This time also the political pressure is building on police. People are therefore skeptical about the success of this eviction drive. One hopes it does not.