Srinagar, June 7, June 8 -- Footpaths in many urban areas are increasingly losing their primary purpose of serving pedestrians, as growing encroachments and misuse continue to shrink safe walking space, raising concerns over urban planning, civic discipline and public safety. Ideally meant for pedestrians to walk safely, access bus stops, use designated crossings, or take brief rest during travel, footpaths are instead being increasingly occupied and misused, leaving little space for their intended function.In several areas, footpaths have effectively turned into extensions of commercial establishments, with shopkeepers displaying merchandise outside their premises, significantly reducing walking space for pedestrians. This often forces p...