LUCKNOW, Jan. 12 -- With footpaths taken over by street vendors and illegally parked vehicles, pedestrians in some VIP areas of Lucknow are being forced to walk on busy roads, turning daily commutes into a hazardous experience. Despite repeated complaints and the importance of the locations, civic authorities have failed to carry out sustained enforcement, leaving residents, commuters and visitors to fend for themselves. An HT reality check on Sunday found that large stretches of footpaths along Sapru Marg, Shahnajaf Road and the inner roads connecting to Hazratganj are no longer usable for walking. Vendors have occupied the paved walkways with makeshift shops, while four-wheelers line up on roads and footpath edges, shrinking the carriageway and triggering frequent traffic snarls. As a result, elderly people, children, women and tourists are routinely seen stepping into moving traffic to navigate these stretches. The issue is most glaring along the nearly one-km stretch of Sapru Marg leading towards Hazratganj. Footpaths constructed for pedestrian movement now function as informal markets. In several spots, multiple stalls belonging to the same individual operate from within barricaded footpaths, leaving no space for pedestrians. Commuters said the problem becomes worse during peak hours, when traffic density increases and the risk of accidents rises sharply. Shahnajaf Road presents a similar picture. During evening hours, illegal parking by cars and the spillover of eateries onto public space choke the road. Vehicles park haphazardly outside food joints, forcing pedestrians to weave through traffic. Locals said congestion has become a daily affair, with even short distances taking disproportionately long to cover. What has added to public anger is the proximity of the affected areas to key administrative offices. The encroachments persist close to the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) headquarters and the district magistrate's camp office, raising questions about monitoring and accountability. Residents argue that if violations continue unchecked in such high-profile zones, the situation elsewhere in the city is unlikely to improve. Visitors to the city shared similar concerns. Rishika Bajpai, who visited Lucknow from Delhi with her family, said that while the main Hazratganj stretch is relatively better managed, inner roads paint a different picture. Local residents said enforcement drives, when conducted, are short-lived. nothing changes," he said. Roop Kumar Sharma, a social activist, noted that unchecked encroachments not only endanger pedestrians but also worsen traffic congestion and undermine public faith in urban governance. He stressed that footpaths are critical public assets and must be protected for their intended use. Responding to the issue, municipal commissioner Gaurav Kumar said the LMC would initiate a drive against illegal encroachments. He assured that action would be taken against unauthorised vendors and vehicles parked illegally on roads and footpaths. htc...