Rich or poor, encroachment is the common woe here

New Delhi: Having a mix of upscale, middle-class profile/unauthorised and low colonies with different issues, the Kalkaji assembly constituency in south Delhi shares one common problem - encroachment.

- Vibha.Sharma

Most pavements, central verges, and roadsides in its three wards - Kalkaji, Sriniwaspuri and Govindpuri are taken over by encroachers and the problem seems to have no solution. Internal lanes at markets as well as busy stretches like Dhir Sen and Captain Gaur Marg in East of Kailash, Guru Ravidas Marg between Kalkaji and Govindpuri, CV Raman Marg near Maharani Bagh all portray the same picture. The ongoing construction work on major roads, including Ring Road (Ashram), has only added to the woes, alleged residents.

"It is impossible to cross the market on Malik Ram Essar Marg without getting stuck for 15-25 minutes in the afternoon and evening. The entire stretch is heavily commercialised, and besides shopkeepers, customers also leave their vehicles by the road. A multilevel parking is around one kilometre away, but people prefer not to walk," said Vishal Khanna, president of traders' association, Kalkaji.

"Two-third of the road is taken over by e-rickshaws, vendors, gramin sewas, transport vehicles," he alleged, adding that they had even requested to stop DTC services on this route to tackle congestion.