Blocked Footpaths

Written by: Samira Haleemzai

In most cities of Afghanistan, footpaths are also built for pedestrians along the roadside but some shopkeepers, restaurants, car owners and vendors block the footpath and cause trouble for pedestrians.

AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to some people about this issue.

Muhammad Hasan, a resident of Balkh province says: “the footpaths in our city are always blocked by retailers. One day, a child was going on the main road due to blocked footpath and he died in a car crash.”

Sardar Wali, a resident of Qarabagh district, Kabul province says: “I am a driver and most footpaths are blocking in Qarabagh city by shopkeepers, especially on the bazaar days. One day, when the footpath was blocked, a man died in a car crash.”

 What are the responsibilities of shopkeepers and people and what are the regulations of municipality about this issue?

Qais Ahmad, a resident of Kabul city says: "I am a driver. If I want to buy something from a shop, I stand my car in car parking and I have never stopped my car in a footpath yet.”

Farhad, a resident of Jalriz district, Maidan-Wardak province says: “I am a shopkeeper and I have never caused to block the footpath with my shop’s goods because I know that blocking footpath creates problems for pedestrians.”

Kabul municipality has specified special places for vendors. If they continue to sell their goods in the footpaths, according to the municipality regulations, the municipality would inform them not to block the footpaths; the second time they would be fined and if they repeatedly block the footpaths, their shops would be closed and the vendors’ karts would be confiscated with the help police.