Over 60 per cent of the roads in the city don’t have
footpaths while the remaining 40 have footpaths that are either
encroached upon or have a width less than 1.5 metres.

This
emerged from a recent study on conditions of footpaths in Bangalore
carried out by a Traffic Advisory Committee under M.N. Sreehari, Advisor
to Government on Traffic, Transportation and Infrastructure.

“This
is not only a blatant violation of the Indian Road Congress (IRC)
rules, but also a serious threat to the safety and security of
pedestrians,” Mr. Sreehari told
The Hindu
.

The 300-page study, which has been submitted to the
State government, shows that at least one pedestrian is killed every
day on an average in Bangalore while many others are injured while
either crossing the roads or even walking on footpaths.

“We
have brought it to the notice of the government and discussed it in the
meetings with the BBMP officials, but no action has been taken,” he
said, and accused the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike of doing
nothing unless someone files a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking
judicial intervention.

The BBMP, responsible for the
maintaining the road, is widening the roads to facilitate motorists at
the cost of footpaths, which are increasingly becoming narrower,
depriving the right of every pedestrian, he said.

The
study shows that pedestrians account for 53 per cent of the road
accident victims in the city. They also account for another 40 per cent
of trauma cases reported in the hospitals across the city.

Prof.
Sreehari said that the BBMP’s proposal to construct more skywalks and
underpasses, at an estimated cost ranging from Rs. 70 lakh to Rs. 1.25
crore each, will not help pedestrians in anyway as there are no takers
for the existing skywalks and underpasses.

“Instead
of wasting funds, the BBMP should at least maintain the available
footpaths by carrying out regular drives to clear encroachments.”