Missing in city: Pavements for pedestrians to walk safely

Missing in city: Pavements for pedestrians to walk safely
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: Hop, skip and jump is the way to walk on the footpaths of Bangalore, as most places lack adequate walking space. There are very few footpaths in the City and the least said of them the better.

The footpaths do not have enough walking space and levelled paths. Most of them are left unfinished due to continuous repair work or they have turned into dumping grounds for construction material and machinery. If not, they are encroached by restaurants and shops.

Motorists use footpaths as parking space and even use them as an extension of the roads during traffic jams.

Many citizens feel that there are no footpaths left for pedestrians in the City and the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike has concentrated only on improving the roads, ignoring the worries of the pedestrians.

Neetu K, a resident, says that places like Commercial Street and Jayanagar, have no footpaths, while those on MG Road and Brigade Road are encroached by shop-keepers. “It plays havoc with pedestrians as they are compelled to walk on roads which is unsafe,” she added.

Rajesh Poddar, a shop owner in Majestic, complains that footpaths are not levelled, thus making it difficult to walk in these crowded places. “Many people have hurt themselves walking on the footpaths, as none of them are suited to meet the needs of people. Vehicles also move on them, adding to the pedestrians’ worries,” he added.

D Narayan K, another shop-keeper, said that the Corporation should pay more attention to people’s worries. It should concentrate on footpaths and try to improve the roads.

* The length of the footpaths vary depending upon the areas (residential or commercial)

* The lengths of footpaths, based on divisions: South - 687.85 kms, North - not accounted, East - 394.60 kms.