90 Feet of a 100-Foot Road Occupied, Causing Severe Traffic Disruption
Published : 16:58, 14 October 2026
Road space has become a daily concern for commuters in the capital, but the situation on the 100-foot-wide Madani Avenue in the jurisdiction of Bhatara Police Station is particularly troubling. Encroachment by street vendors, the unrestricted movement of battery-powered rickshaws and haphazard parking have rendered much of the road practically unusable.
Local residents allege that around 90 feet of the road is occupied, leaving only about 10 feet for vehicles to pass at some points. The resulting congestion is increasing accident risks and causing daily hardship for pedestrians and commuters.
Street Vendors Extend Their Stalls onto the Road
A visit to the area found vendors occupying not only the footpaths but also extending their stalls onto the main road. Temporary shops and businesses have been set up in three to four rows in some places.
As a result, vehicles have insufficient space to move normally along the 100-foot-wide road. With a substantial portion occupied, traffic is forced through narrow passages, contributing to congestion, particularly during busy hours.
Pedestrians are among those suffering most because the footpaths are also obstructed. With little space left for walking, many people are forced to move alongside moving vehicles or walk on the main road. This increases risks for women, children and older people. Walking safely becomes even more difficult in the evening and at night, when pedestrian movement increases.
Unregulated Rickshaw Movement Raises Accident Risks
The uncontrolled movement of battery-powered rickshaws and other small vehicles is another major contributor to traffic congestion, according to observations in the area.
Drivers have been seen changing lanes abruptly, travelling against traffic, stopping indiscriminately and picking up or dropping off passengers in the middle of the road. These practices disrupt the normal flow of traffic and increase the risk of sudden collisions and accidents.
Illegal parking has further reduced the road’s usable width. Private cars, rickshaws and other vehicles are parked along both sides of the road, near entrances and close to junctions. Combined with the encroachment by street vendors, the parking problem leaves even less space for moving traffic. As a result, vehicles often have to wait for extended periods to cover relatively short distances.
Concerns Over Emergency Services
Office workers, students, local residents and people travelling to nearby institutions face daily difficulties because of the situation. Commuters struggle to reach their destinations on time, while pedestrians are deprived of safe walking space.
Local residents are concerned that the narrowing of the road could also obstruct emergency vehicles. Delays involving ambulances, fire service vehicles or police cars could have serious consequences during emergencies. Traffic congestion could be particularly dangerous when critically ill patients need to be transported to hospitals quickly.
Residents Call for Immediate Action
Local residents have called for the immediate removal of encroachments from the 100-foot road on Madani Avenue, the restoration of footpaths for pedestrians, an end to illegal parking and tighter control over battery-powered rickshaw movement.
They argue that occasional eviction drives alone will not resolve the problem. Regular monitoring, effective enforcement of the law and disciplined road management are necessary for a lasting solution.
Residents believe that coordinated action by the relevant authorities could restore normal traffic movement on the road while improving pedestrian safety.
