Several illegal kiosks are coming up at Ambedkar Stadium, Collectorate Road, Mission Hospital, Civil Hospital and other roads. But the MCK remains a mute spectator
Many mini-markets and integrated markets constructed in various parts of the town remain idle as the MCK and Traffic police have not relocated the roadside vendors
MCK and Traffic police fail to remove encroachments of footpaths and parking spaces by the hoppers and other traders
KARIMNAGAR, AUGUST 30, 2026: Mounting illegal kiosks and roadside encroachments choke public roads and cause severe traffic snarls in Karimnagar town, albeit the so-called Smart City.
In the name of the Smart City, Karimnagar town roads have gone from bad to worse, as municipal authorities and the then BRS leaders have converted broad roads into narrow ones through unscientific Smart City road construction. Everywhere, encroachment is seen on the Smart City roads, causing traffic snarls and accidents.
But the Municipal authorities are least bothered about the removal of illegal kiosks and encroachments of the roads and parking places. Thanks to the lethargy on the part of the MCK and Traffic police, the pedestrians and commuters are bearing the brunt of worsening chaos in the city’s congested bazaars such as Tower Circle and arterial roads.
The road around the ambitious Ambedkar stadium was once a two-lane road with central lighting. But in the name of smart city, it was converted into a narrow single-lane road, allowing the kiosks and vendors to occupy the parking space and footpaths on the busy road. Recently, a kiosk had come up overnight on the busy Seven Hills Road, encroaching on the public road where many hospitals and diagnostic centres are located.
A visit to the city’s main bazaars revealed that a large number of shopkeepers have extended their establishments up to the middle of narrow roads after encroaching footpaths denying it for pedestrians and drastically shrinking the already limited parking places. Shoppers are forced to squeeze through cramped passages, often competing with moving vehicles for right of way.
The problem is particularly acute at Tower circle area, Ambedkar stadium, Police headquarters shopping complex, MCK office shopping complex, Court area, District Forest Office, Mankammathota, Kaman cross roads, Gandhi road, Doctors street, Civil hospital area, Mancherial cross roads, Kharkhanagadda, Vidyanagar and more roads, triggering traffic snarls. The motorists and pedestrians struggle to cross congested stretches, expressing helplessness amid the disorder.
A doctor from Karimnagar town, who passes on these roads regularly, asked what MCK, R&B and Traffic police are doing when illegal kiosks and vendors are encroaching on busy roads and causing traffic snarls. If the illegal kiosks and vendors are allowed on the road, there is every possibility encroach and every road available in the town.
The Lok Satta Udyama Samstha district unit leaders also found fault with the MCK authorities for not relocating the roadside vendors into several mini-markets constructed in various parts of Karimnagar town and lying idle in spite of spending several lakhs of rupees. They also demanded that the MCK authorities provide free parking at the IDSMT complex, which was constructed by demolishing the Old Municipal Guest House at Madina Circle.
It may be mentioned here that MCK had been on the task of burdening the people with parking fees at the IDSMT complex for all vehicles from July 27, 2026, onwards. Earlier, the MCK had converted the Old High School Grounds and Circus Grounds into paid parks by collecting huge entry fees from the people of the town. And now, the MCK has decided to collect parking fees for the people visiting the Tower Circle commercial area for shopping purposes.
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