Where encroachments deprive pedestrians of their right to walk
Encroachments are rampant in the entire Karimnagar town, but Traffic and MCK officials remain mute spectators
There is no drive against autorickshaws for overloading with passengers, installation of music systems and additional seats adjacent to the driver’s seat and illegal auto-stands in town
But, the Traffic police target only two-wheelers and cars without providing basic road infrastructure to them in Karimnagar town
KARIMNAGAR, APRIL 02, 2026: The Traffic police in Karimnagar district, who are bent on imposing e-challans by taking pictures of two-wheelers clandestinely for traffic violations such as no helmet, wrong side driving, triple-riding and no-number plates etc, are neglecting their legitimate duties to remove encroachments of footpaths and parking spaces by the traders in various parts of the town.
Even as the autorickshaws flout the traffic rules in the glaring presence of the Traffic police, the autos go scot-free, and the traffic police only target the two-wheelers and cars in the town by imposing e-challans. The autos overload, violating the norms, and they are made to go scot-free. The autos encroach on each corner and traffic junctions and convert it as their ‘adda’ (auto-stands) in Karimnagar, but no action is taken against them by the Traffic police or Municipal Authorities.
Illegal and unregulated parking of auto-rickshaws at major intersections and roads across the city has been a persistent menace for daily commuters, triggering regular traffic jams and causing widespread inconvenience. Despite repeated complaints from people, the authorities concerned and traffic police appear unable, or unwilling, to take effective action against the offenders, largely due to political patronage enjoyed by auto-rickshaw unions.
Rather than penalising auto drivers for traffic violations, police personnel are often seen urging them to keep moving. The situation is especially dire outside the Karimnagar bus stand. During the peak hours, rows of auto-rickshaws block the entire road while waiting for passengers, leading to long queues of vehicles behind them on narrow, unsafe lanes. If a traffic cop is present, at most a single lane is cleared, but in their absence, the road becomes virtually impassable.
There is an official auto stand allocated on the premises of the RTC bus station complex, but the autos have encroached the road opposite to the bus stand, ZP office, traffic junction towards Prathima hotel, JK medical store and more, causing more traffic snarls with illegal parking of vehicles on the busy road. The autos are parked illegally around Karimnagar DCCB by erecting signboards as ‘Auto-stands’. Who permitted the encroachment of roads to convert busy roads into ‘auto-stands’?
While the then rulers of MCK had destroyed the Karimnagar town in the name of Smart City by converting wide roads into narrow roads for obvious reasons, better known to the leaders concerned. Then authorities had constructed footpaths and parking spaces, which have become easy access for the traders and shoppers to encroach. Literally, the MCK authorities and Police officilas had failed to remove the encroachment of footpaths on their shopping complexes at the MCK office and the Police headquarters in Karimnagar town.
Once, a double-lane road with central lighting around Ambedkar stadium was converted into a narrow road with a footpath and a huge parking space, which was encroached by various traders and vendors. Some of them had even opened hotels and tiffin centres, causing serious traffic snarls around the Ambedkar stadium.
With so many flaws on the part of the Traffic police and MCK authorities, who fail to launch the anti-encroachment drive to remove encroachment of footpaths and parking places. The authorities should first anti-encroachment drive regularly to remove illegal encroachments from roads, footpaths and public spaces across the city. They should also remove unauthorised shop extensions, temporary structures, display boards, goods and other obstructions occupying government land.
The encroachments causing traffic bottlenecks should be cleared to restore the original width of roads and footpaths and ensure smoother vehicular movement and pedestrian safety. Shopkeepers and traders should be cautioned to restrict their business activities within prescribed limits and should be strictly instructed not to occupy public spaces.
The Traffic police should improve road infrastructure and ensure that pedestrians walk on footpaths, and there are no encroachments of roads, instead of giving priority only to imposing e-challans targetting two-wheelers and cars.
