They couldn’t have put it better; yes, encroachments on pavements pose a significant challenge. Certainly, I agree with Sanjit Rodrigues of Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Ltd (IPSCDL); encroachments certainly do hamper the Smart City work in progress in Panaji.
In cities like Mumbai too, encroachments like tea-food stalls and shop extensions on pavements do pose a challenge, not just for repair work but also for the general public. However, the important question is, how were they allowed to be there in the first place?
In Mumbai, such stalls are even provided with footpath railings. This brings us to another question: are the pavements meant for pedestrians or for business purposes? How smart can we get? The authorities need to take a principled stand on the issue of pavements.
