Residents in the neighbourhood on Thursday raised concerns about the increasing number of residential houses being illegally rented out for commercial purposes.

In a meeting chaired by the local legislator, members of the residents’ association said that houses in the area were being rented out as hotels, cafes, and parlours. They noted that this had resulted in more traffic, increased garbage, excess sewage, and frequent electricity disruptions. They also pointed out that these buildings charged commercial rent despite not being designated for commercial use.

Residents presented official planning maps to show that properties classified as “residential” were operating as commercial units. They added that these establishments were releasing more sewage than permitted, causing sewage backflow into nearby homes.

The area also has several schools, resulting in heavy traffic during peak hours. Residents said commercial units did not provide parking spaces, leading to staff encroaching on pavements, leaving no room for pedestrians. They added that these encroachments extended onto the road, worsening traffic congestion.

More than 20 residents attended the meeting. The legislator assured them that he would escalate the issue to the relevant civic and planning authorities and said that concerns raised by multiple residents’ groups in the constituency were being acted upon promptly.

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