Smart roads fail to ensure pedestrian safety as footpaths in Erode remain encroached

Smart roads equipped with footpaths to enhance pedestrian safety have failed to serve its purpose in Erode district, as pathways on both sides are permanently encroached upon by shopkeepers.

Under the Smart Cities Mission, the civic body in 2019 proposed the development of smart roads to regulate traffic flow and ensure pedestrian safety. The project included road redesign, underground utilities, pedestrian pathways, smart poles, surveillance cameras, and information display boards.

Initially, six roads covering 4.37 km were developed at a cost of ₹41.30 crore. Subsequently, additional roads were taken up at an expenditure exceeding ₹75 crore. However, the objective of ensuring pedestrian safety has not materialised, as most of the footpaths created under the scheme have been encroached upon.

Veterinary Hospital Road, connecting Gandhiji Road and State Bank of India Road, is one such stretch where footpaths have been encroached upon to the extent that they are no longer visible.

“Initially, a few textile shops encroached the pathways. Since no action was taken, all the shopkeepers gradually occupied the entire stretch,” said V. Balamurugan, a pedestrian who was forced to walk on the narrow portion of the carriageway, further reduced by unauthorised vehicle parking. He alleged that shopkeepers had erected permanent rooftop structures and extended their establishments, completely covering the footpaths. Similarly, pathways on other smart roads are being used for unauthorised parking and commercial activities.

Although the civic body last year directed shopkeepers to voluntarily remove rooftop structures and advertisement materials installed on public property, violations continue in the city.