"The Hindu" Article Published on July 3, 2008

The Right to Walk Foundation -
The Right to Walk Safely on Clean, Encroachment-free Footpaths


http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/03/stories/2008070360830300.htm

Wanted: sidewalks for city’s pedestrians City Pulse
(D.V.L. Padma Priya and Yogendra Kalavalapalli)

HYDERABAD: How long has it been since you last walked on clean sidewalks, devoid of obstacles that make for a pleasant walking experience? Not many roads in our city can boast of decent s despite our politicians’ shrill claims of being world class.
Usually, a pedestrian is the ‘king of the road’ who has the ‘right of the way’. But in our city, a pedestrian is considered a hindrance and sidewalks an obstruction for the ‘free-flow’ of traffic. Kanthimathi Kannan, founder of the Right to Walk Foundation says,“in India either we are unaware or are deliberately unaware of footpaths.” According to a World Bank report more than 40 per cent Hyderabadis are pedestrians. Her focus is to create public awareness so that people can force GHMC to get onto its feet and act on issues that matter.
Recently a student of a women’s college in Begumpet was hit by a motorist as she was crossing the road. “Most of us are scared to use the footpath during peak hours because motorists drive on it,” says Sapna Jain, a student. Vehicles hurtling towards pedestrians leaves them confused resulting in avoidable accidents.
According to Andhra Pradesh Road Safety Authority, pedestrians account for about 45 per cent road accident deaths in the State. Section 374 of the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Act clearly states that it is the duty of the commissioner of GHMC to take measures for the safety of pedestrians.
Section 2(46) of the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Act 1955 defines public streets as including sidewalks.
However, most public streets are devoid of sidewalks – a clear violation of the GHMC’s own rules. And where they exist, they are unusable with public urinals, electrical transformers, telephone exchange boxes, trees and encroachments eating into the sidewalks. Footpaths have been removed in many areas to facilitate road widening, forcing the pedestrians to walk on the road. According to Vedakumar, president of Forum for a Better Hyderabad, “70 per cent of road is used by 25 per cent of people. It is this 25 per cent who demand better and wider roads all the time while the rest who should demand wider and better sidewalks remain silent.”
So what makes for a good road? According to Dr. Vijay Kishore, Director, School of Planning and Architecture, JNTU, an ideal road should comprise four lanes, each measuring 3.5 to 3.8 metres with a footpath of 4 feet width and 7 inches height. But not many urban planners seem to be taking these factors into consideration. As Vedakumar puts it, GHMC is worried more about lawns and beautification than in providing basic amenities like sidewalks, zebra crossings and so in.
Encroachment is a major problem that has been plaguing authorities more so in market areas like Koti and Charminar. Though GHMC demarcated hawker zones, they continue to spill onto the roads. Just in this month alone, the Charminar traffic police booked 1,140 cases against hawkers. However, owing to political pressure the police are forced to retract.
However it shouldn’t be taken for granted that hawkers are the sole encroachers. Corporates and big business houses have encroached upon walkways in prime localities like Somajiguda, Ameerpet, Himayatnagar, Mehdipatnam, Patny circle, Paradise and Panjagutta.
It is not always the motorists who are at fault but also the pedestrians. Jay-walking is common with pedestrians randomly hitting the road when they feel like crossing a road. Foot-over-Bridges (FoBs) have their own drawbacks as they don’t take into consideration the aged and the physically-challenged. Though subways have proven to be a good alternative to ease pedestrian traffic, they haven’t really taken off in the city.