Encroachments by residents narrow Lucknow roads; LDA-LMC pass buck
LUCKNOW, July 25 -- Construction of ramps, fencing beside the main entrance after plantation and extension of the boundary wall itself, are some of the tricks that residents employ to grab public land.This was clearly evident during a ground visit by HT on Wednesday-Thursday to areas like Aashiana, Gomti Nagar, Indira Nagar, Jankipuram, Vikas Nagar, and Mahanagar, a common pattern emerged.
Residents have extended their properties illegally by constructing ramps, gardens, temporary garages, and placing barriers or potted plants on footpaths, often even covering drains (nullahs).
A retired senior LDA official explained that in Vinamra Khand, Vivek Khand, and other residential pockets, especially in the inner lanes where the minimum road width is around 7.5 metres, residents have constructed parking spaces and gardens outside their plot boundaries.
This has drastically reduced the available road width, as footpaths and open spaces outside plots have been encroached upon. In several areas, footpaths no longer exist due to this encroachment.
Meanwhile, the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) and Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) continue to shift responsibility, stalling any meaningful action.
LDA's enforcement wing claims that only the engineering section is responsible for taking action in areas that haven't been handed over to LMC. In contrast, LMC officials argue they can only intervene after the scheme is officially transferred.
"Until a housing scheme is handed over to the LMC, the responsibility lies with LDA's engineering section," confirmed a senior LDA official. "After the handover, it becomes LMC's jurisdiction." As a result, roads have become narrower, leading to frequent traffic jams, water-logging during rains, and forcing pedestrians to walk on the road amid moving vehicles.
"The entire stretch in front of our houses in Gomti Nagar has turned into personal gardens and ramps. We've lost public space, and the authorities just don't act," said Ritu Srivastava, a commuter. In Mahanagar, residents have constructed full-fledged garages on public footpaths. In other parts of the city, people have blocked nullahs with cement ramps, which prevents water flow and triggers flooding during rains. When HT tried to contact municipal commissioner Gaurav Kumar, he said, "I will look into the matter."...
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