A long way to reclaim streets for pedestrians

The Supreme Court's intervention on May 14 to ensure the availability of unobstructed, disabled-friendly footpaths for people is expected to help prioritise pedestrian needs in road design that past court orders, legislation and policies have struggled to achieve.

- Shivani Singh

Invoking Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to life and personal liberty, the apex court asked all states and Union Territories to finalise guidelines within two months and file compliance reports, which will be heard on August 1.

Over the years, some cities have made progress but improvements in walking infrastructure remained localised and not easily scalable. Cautioning that political and administrative inconsistencies hindered decision-making and policy implementation, experts emphasise the urgency for rethinking mobility to pursue the walkability agenda.

Pedestrians in the mobility pyramid

Pedestrians deserve a fair share of road space. They have the numbers, and space is not a constraint because India has the world’s second-largest road network after the US. But an audit directed by the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety showed that in 2024, only 56% of Delhi roads had footpaths. A similar trend was observed in all other cities surveyed.

Footpaths are the backbone of mobility and a measure of urban liveability. They ensure the safety of pedestrians, the most vulnerable of all road users. They provide access to bus and Metro stations and make local destinations such as shops, parks, schools, and medical facilities walkable. A well-planned footpath network can reduce reliance on vehicles, offering health and environmental benefits. It is also a vibrant social space.

Building a footpath involves easy masonry work and no big investment. Its maintenance only ensures that the walkways are not dug up, rutted, littered, or used as a toilet, parking lot, or unregulated vending space. Yet, even as footpaths are neglected, a broken walkway rarely triggers the same public outcry as a potholed road.

False perception