All encroachments on roads and footpaths from and around Subhash Marg, a prime road of old Delhi opposite Red Fort having been removed temporarily for the month of January 2018 because of Republic Day celebrations have resulted in a sigh of relief to users of roads and footpaths with hassle-free movement of pedestrian and vehicular traffic, being environment-friendly too. Otherwise this main road and its nearby other roads like Ramchandra Dehlvi Marg (formerly Esplanade Road Cycle Market) and Dr HC Sen Road are full of encroachments with footpaths totally encroached and even encroachments extending till one-third of road-widths. Bus-shelter at Subhash Marg is converted into a shop, and one side of two-way wide Ramchandra Dehlvi Marg is totally blocked for vehicular traffic because of encroachments. Not only hawkers but even shopkeepers also guilty of encroachments by blocking footpath and roads by putting their merchandise there. However footpath-market on road between Subhash Maidaan Car Parking and New Lajpatrai Market removed sometime back has re-emerged.
Big question is why law-breaking encroachers are given liberty to cause problems for law-abiding citizens through grabbing of prime land for commercial purposes causing also biggest damage to environment and unnecessary burnt of vehicle-fuel due to regular traffic-jams. If these encroachments are removed in months of Independence Day and Republic Day and for visits of persons under security-cover to this area, then such reform should be on permanent basis also because of usual strictures passed by Delhi high Court in regard to encroachments in and around Chandni Chowk.
MADHU AGRAWAL