Eateries put South Fort walls at risk in Thiruvananthapur​am

T’puram: The historic Fort walls in the capital are facing renewed neglect, with streetside eateries operating close to the heritage structure and causing potential damage after nightfall. The problem is worse at South Fort.Several makeshift food stalls have come up along the stretch, adjoining the fort walls, adjacent to the road to Enchakkal. Tents are pitched close to the structure, while wastewater from the eateries is reportedly discharged at the foot of the walls. The area remains crowded late into the night, with customers and vehicles adding to congestion around the heritage site.Residents said the stalls were being allowed to operate despite the area’s heritage significance. They alleged that the vendors showed little concern for the fort wall, with cooking, washing and waste disposal taking place close to the centuries-old structure.“People come here at night to eat, but no one seems to care about what is happening to the fort walls. Wastewater is being dumped at the base and the structure is being treated as if it were an ordinary roadside wall,” said a resident Subramanian B.Some of the stalls are set up by the side of the warning board fixed by the archaeology department.The West Fort gateway and the surrounding fort structures are part of the historic precinct that includes the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, palaces, and other monuments. The fort was built during the reign of Marthanda Varma in the 18th century.The 250-year-old West Fort gateway was recently repaired after its plaster had peeled off, exposing the brickwork. Nevertheless, traders and hawkers had set up shops too close to the fort wall.Earlier attempts by authorities to remove encroachments and roadside stalls have failed to produce a lasting solution.While a centralised food street has been proposed to regulate roadside vending, residents said immediate steps were needed to protect the West Fort walls.Subramanian alleged that the lack of regular monitoring and enforcement reflected the authorities’ indifference towards the heritage precinct of the city, which served as the capital of the erstwhile princely state of Travancore.Heritage enthusiasts have been raising the issue. But neither the corporation nor the department is able to prevent the hawkers, regulate traffic and protect the fort walls.Stay updated with the latest Thiruvananthapuram news. Download the TOI App.