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SHILLONG, February 8
The West Garo Hills (WGH) district administration has asked all street side vendors and sellers to immediately vacate the space along the State and National Highways as it is causing inconvenience to pedestrians, thereby exposing them to the risk of road accidents.In a notice issued on Sunday, WGH Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi informed that as per specifications of Indian Road Congress, three metres on both sides of the state highways, National Highways and NEC roads and 2.5 metres on both sides of other roads are to be kept encroachment free/ free from any construction. Also, as per instructions indicated in the patta issued by Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), the patta will not include land which is at a distance of 35 feet from the middle/centre of the Government or village road.
“As such it is informed to all street side vendors and sellers that they shall immediately vacate the space from the end of the road and the specifications as indicated above and market their produce from designated markets and haats. All government departments namely PWD (Roads) are directed to issue notices for removal of the roadside encroachments and in front of their government offices,” he said.
The move from the district administration is a result of inconvenience caused to passersby, commuters, children and adults and risk of accidents especially in narrow roads and road junctions due to encroachers and street side vendors blocking the movement of pedestrians exposing them to accidents while walking on the side of the roads.
Bakshi also blamed the traffic congestion on the vendors occupying space on PWD Roads and National Highways. He further stressed that the encroachment with temporary or permanent construction is both illegal and a causal factor of several accidents as well as destroying the look of the town at a time when the state government is engaged in promoting the town as a tourism destination.
