Encroachments Block Kolathur Footpaths Despite Court and Ombudsman Orders

Eateries, tea stalls, and residential structures continue to occupy footpaths along the 600-metre stretch of Poompuhar Nagar 1st Main Road in Kolathur, which houses the Government Arts and Science College. The ongoing illegal space occupations persist despite legal directives and official assurances aimed at clearing the stretch for pedestrians.

The non-compliance comes despite a 2023 order by the Local Bodies Ombudsman directing the removal of the encroachments and a 2025 Madras High Court order calling for a detailed survey of the land. Following the Ombudsman directive, a communication sent by the zonal office on August 7, 2023, had assured corporation officials that the area would be kept free of encroachments.

During a visit on Sunday, tea stalls and hotels completely took over footpaths across several stretches, while makeshift shops had cropped up haphazardly along the road. A few structures, including residences, were marked in yellow, indicating that a land survey had taken place. At least four signboards along the busy stretch explicitly warn commuters against encroaching on the footpath, but residents report that footpaths remain barely visible.

Local pedestrians, particularly the elderly, women, and children, are severely affected by the lack of walking space. J Naveen, a student at the college, stated that there is hardly any space to walk and that pedestrian crowds intensify in the evening hours after college classes conclude, making it difficult to navigate along the stretch.