Nagpur: Even after a recent expose revealed footpaths being ‘sold’ for Rs6,000 per month, fresh complaints suggest the racket is far bigger and far more organised than earlier believed. Residents and small traders from Gandhibagh now claim that groups are openly charging daily rent, taking heavy deposits and threatening those who refuse to pay. TOI recently reported that footpath space was being illegally rented out at IT Park for Rs6,000 per month. According to vendors who contacted TOI on the condition of anonymity, nearly eight to nine people are operating in the Gandhibagh market belt, charging between Rs500 and Rs700 per day from hawkers who want to set up stalls on public roads and footpaths. “They are also taking deposits of Rs30,000 to Rs50,000. If someone refuses to pay, they are thrown out or beaten up,” they alleged. The situation is reportedly worse near the post office and major ATM points, where public access has been virtually blocked. A juice stall located in front of the India Post office in Itwari area is allegedly paying around Rs1,500 per day to continue operating on the footpath. Similar complaints have surfaced near ATM kiosks, where residents say people are unable to even reach the machines because of makeshift stalls selling clothes, shoes and other items. “We complained to the bank manager also because the entrance to the ATM is blocked. Nobody is taking action. The footpath belongs to the municipal corporation, but private groups are openly collecting money,” locals claimed. They further alleged that five to seven local groups are running separate networks and collecting daily cash from hawkers, many of whom continue to operate till 1 am. Residents have warned that the situation could soon turn violent. “Fights are happening almost every day. If this continues, Gandhibagh will become like Sitabuldi main road, where the encroachment problem has already gone out of control,” they said. What has raised more concern is that the problem is no longer limited to one area. Similar complaints are now emerging from Mahal, Sadar, Sakkardara, Dharampeth, Gokulpeth and Indora, indicating that illegal occupation of footpaths has turned into a citywide network rather than a local issue. The NMC’s enforcement department has a centralised squad apart from zonal teams to ensure public places remain free from encroachments. However, residents say most actions have become predictable. Hawkers are allegedly alerted before raids and return within hours. The department also continues to function without a full-time assistant municipal commissioner, while several staff members have remained posted there for years, raising questions about whether the drives are meant to solve the problem or simply show action on paper.With daily ‘rent’, deposits and threats becoming routine, citizens are now questioning whether public footpaths in Nagpur have effectively been handed over to extortion rackets.
