Anantapur and Kurnool cities are no exception to the encroachment of public pavements alongside the main thoroughfares and in the residential colonies with impunity thanks to the political patronage they receive irrespective of party affiliations. If you thought only the local people occupied the pavements for promoting their businesses, officials of the municipal corporations too have contributed to the misery by erecting obstructions in the name of beautifying or greening the city.
Kurnool city has made a new beginning to free its pavement of the encroachers by removing the kiosks, push-cart vendors and other semi-permanent unauthorised businesses and make the stretch from Ballari Junction to Ulchala Junction (Kodumur) dust-free by paving the road, for which Rs.1 crore has been sanctioned.
At Raj Vihar Junction, walking on the pavement is more hazardous than walking on the road as large pots have been put up by the KMC for greenery. At Zilla Parishad, small vendors occupy the pavement and at A.P. Transco Office kiosks set up along the boundary wall went even to the extent of seeking power connection for their businesses, which was denied by the department.
