Encroachers re-occupy Ranchi's pavements despite repeated drives

Ranchi: Despite repeated drives carried out by the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) across the city in recent months to clear pavements and roads of encroachments, they are being re-occupied by encroachers, leaving pedestrians struggling for space to walk and raising concerns among residents.

Pavements on several stretches, including Purulia Road, Upper Bazar, Albert Ekka Chowk, Lalpur and Kantatoli, among various others, are being occupied by roadside vendors, garment sellers, street food stalls and various traders. In many areas, pavements have also turned into illegal parking zones, with vehicles parked round the clock.


In Dec 2025 and January this year, RMC conducted intensive anti-encroachment drives to free up congested roads and ensure smooth movement for commuters, in view of the Jharkhand high court’s order to decongest city roads. But after two months, various vendors have again reclaimed the space, blocking pavements and creating inconvenience for pedestrians.

Residents urged the corporation to implement a more permanent solution, including designated vending zones for street vendors and stricter enforcement to prevent the reoccupation of cleared spaces.

“RMC officials occasionally clear the pavements during special drives, but vendors often return to the same spots soon after the operations end. It has turned into a repetitive exercise. The vendors stay away for 10-20 days after the drive and emerge again. The corporation needs some foolproof method so that pedestrians can freely walk on pavements,” Binod Choudhury, a Lalpur resident, said.

Residents complained that the persistent encroachment forces pedestrians to walk on busy roads, putting their safety at risk. “Footpaths are meant for pedestrians, but in many places they are completely blocked by vendors. People, including children and elderly, have no option but to walk on the roads amid moving vehicles, putting their lives in danger,” Rajeev Kumar, a resident of Purulia Road, said.

A vendor, who runs an eatery on a pavement in Lalpur, said that he has no other choice. “Had the authorities provided us designated places to run our small business, we would not have been playing this hide-and-seek game with them,” the vendor said on the condition of anonymity.

RMC additional administrator Sanjay Kumar told TOI that the corporation is mulling over increasing the fine amount for offenders “so that they do not come back again and set up stalls”. He added, “RMC officials can’t keep an eye on the roads round the clock. So we will soon involve police stations so that they can assist in clearing encroachments.”Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Women's day wishes, messages and quotes !