AGARTALA, Feb 26 (TIWN): Where footpaths are mainly constructed for the pedestrians, number of shopkeepers who has set up their shops near the footpaths has been using the area as a part of extension of their shops.

Reportedly, mostly the shops of Kamanchowmuhani, Sakuntala road, Hawkers, Battala and many others have been using the footpaths as the extension of the road.

Even there are shopkeepers who also set a stand of cloths and various other items over the road disrupting the vehicular movements.

It is to be mentioned here that despite of several complains made by the pedestrians, the shopkeepers are least bothered to take off their stalls.

On the other hand, though the concern authorities have witnessed the issue for several times, they are also not taking any initiatives to carry out any drive to evict the extension of the shops.

Further, the extension of the fruit stalls at Kamanchowmuhani have been creating problem for the pedestrians to walk over the footpath.

Besides, it also had lead to pollution making the area dirty and smelly. The flower shops set up in the Kaman Chowmuhani area also throws the waste materials on the roads making the surroundings dirty.

It is to be mentioned here that where the AMC authority takes initiatives to evict the hawker in the Battala area, but they are allegedly taking no initiatives to evict the extended stalls of the shops which are blocking the foot paths.

The pedestrians had to take the road way to cover the area risking their life.

Further, due to the extended stalls at the Sakuntala road gets clumsy and disrupting vehicular movement, risking the life of the people.

Some of the shopkeepers dump garbage near the footpath creating unhygienic and dirty surrounding.

Heaps of junk articles, clothes, displaying of banners and other articles has made the footpath almost invisible, creating inconvenience for pedestrians.

However, despite of the authority noticed for several time that the shopkeepers are extending the stalls illegally, and also there are some small shops setting up their stall on the roads side, no initiative are being taken.