Pune: Pedestrian Infrastructure In Shambles, Only 800 Km Of Roads Have Footpaths
Pune: Pedestrian Infrastructure In Shambles, Only 800 Km Of Roads Have Footpaths
Despite the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) efforts to promote pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, a staggering 1,200 km of roads in the city lack footpaths. According to the Indian Road Congress (IRC), a footpath or sidewalk is a fundamental component of urban infrastructure, essential for ensuring pedestrian safety.
Out of Pune’s 2,000 km road network, only 800 km have footpaths, and most of these are encroached or unsafe for walking. This alarming statistic raises concerns about the city’s commitment to pedestrian infrastructure.
Nikhil Mijar, traffic planner at PMC, acknowledged the issue, while communicating with media that, “We have identified 1,200 km of roads with a width of 15 meters or more, which are eligible for footpaths. However, only 800 km of these roads currently have footpaths.”
A recent ‘Walking survey’ conducted by the PMC revealed 863 encroachments on footpaths along 457.27 km of road stretch. Sahebrao Dandage, superintendent engineer of PMC’s road department, said while talking to the media person that, “We are working to develop footpaths, cycle tracks, and other facilities while clearing obstacles like encroachments. We have identified 15 major roads to be developed as model roads in the city.”
The IRC guidelines emphasize the importance of footpaths, recommending a minimum width of 1.8 meters for roads wider than 18 meters. However, Pune’s pedestrian infrastructure falls short of these standards, highlighting the need for urgent attention and improvement.
