New Year's plea: Make it safe to walk in Indian cities

In almost every Indian city I have walked through, one thing has been consistently missing: walkable footpaths.

- PRAVIN KAUSHAL

Sidewalks, where they exist at all, are often so broken, obstructed or unsafe that pedestrians are forced to walk on the road alongside moving vehicles. What should be a simple act—walking a short distance—becomes a daily exercise in risk management.These hazardous conditions push even willing pedestrians to choose vehicles for short trips. Not because they prefer driving, but because no one wants to gamble with their life navigating open manholes, construction debris, hanging wires, parked cars, sewage and unlit stretches of road.

The consequences are severe. Pedestrian fatalities in India have doubled in just six years. While poor traffic discipline is often blamed, this explanation ignores a more uncomfortable truth: our cities are designed in ways that make walking unsafe. Urban spending has risen significantly over the years, particularly on transport infrastructure. Metros have expanded, flyovers have multiplied and parking facilities have grown. Yet, a stark imbalance stares at us. Most mobility spending prioritizes vehicles, not people—despite pedestrians forming the largest share of urban commuters.