LUCKNOW, March 16 -- Street vendors have started occupying newly constructed footpaths on the crucial 900-metre stretch connecting Hazratganj via Dr Syama Prasad Mukherjee (Civil) Hospital to Lohia Road even as finishing work is still underway. The Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) is redeveloping the stretch under the chief minister grid scheme to improve pedestrian safety and urban infrastructure. The project includes construction of dedicated footpaths, installation of stormwater drainage lines and laying of sewer networks. However, soon after the footpaths were constructed, several vendors set up carts on the pedestrian space, leaving little room for people to walk on either side of the road. Residents say the encroachments have already started defeating the purpose of the project. The road serves as an important city link connecting Hazratganj with the 1090 intersection, Narhi and nearby localities. It also carries emergency traffic from Civil Hospital, with ambulances frequently using the route. When asked, additional municipal commissioner Pankaj Srivastava said: "We will begin a drive to remove the encroachment from the footpaths." In spite of these measures, commuters fear that encroachments on footpaths and the reduced road width may further increase congestion on the already busy stretch. Despite the stretch being located in one of the city's prime areas, residents claim that the encroachments have remained largely unchecked. Residents had earlier raised concerns that the redesigned stretch could worsen congestion because the widened footpaths have reduced the carriageway width. "It's a planning setback. The objective should be smooth mobility first, especially on a stretch having a hospital," said Amit Bhargava, a resident of Narhi....