Pedestrians on Chennai’s Konnur High Road in Ayanavaram are being forced to walk on the carriageway after shops, parked two-wheelers, repair workshops and advertisement boards occupied sections of the footpaths, raising safety concerns along a busy stretch.
The obstruction is particularly visible between the Medavakkam Road junction and Konnur High Road. Residents said the remaining walking space was too narrow for pedestrians, compelling them to move alongside continuous vehicle traffic.
“It becomes particularly difficult when vehicles are moving continuously, and there is also a risk of accidents. The encroachments should be removed, and the footpaths should be monitored regularly to ensure they remain accessible to the public,” resident Malar said.
The issue reflects a recurring conflict on Chennai’s streets: footpaths intended for walking are also being used for commercial activity, parking and roadside advertising. While enforcement drives can reopen the pavement temporarily, the return of vendors and other users has left the underlying question of designated space unresolved.
A Corporation official said encroachments were being removed periodically. The official said the last eviction drive took place three months before the elections, but vendors returned to the same locations and re-established their shops within a week.
Street vendors said eviction drives affected their livelihoods because many depend on roadside businesses for their daily income. Manikandan, a vendor in the area, said he had no separate place to operate and asked that proper space be provided without undermining vendors’ ability to earn.
Members of street vendors’ associations have been seeking permission to operate from designated locations. The Corporation is considering proposals to identify Vending Zones and Non-Vending Zones, which officials say are intended to provide a more permanent framework for managing street activity.
The proposals have not yet been approved. According to the Corporation official, a permanent solution to the encroachment problem is expected only after the zones are formally identified and approved.
Until then, pedestrians using Konnur High Road continue to share the edge of the carriageway with moving vehicles, while the footpaths remain contested spaces between public access, parking, commercial activity and vendor livelihoods.
