Monday, September 29, 2008
R2W, Fund Your Footpath Scheme
In Hyderabad, the GHMC has an interesting scheme named 'Fund Your Park'. We have been trying to talk to the concerned authorities and request them to have a scheme for Funding Footpaths and Pedestrian Crossings schemes wherein Corporates will be responsible for creating and maintaining footpaths or pedestrian crossings as the case may be.
R2W Campaign Launch
The R2W is planning the launch a ' Save Our Footpath' Campaign. We are planning to get about 20000 signatures from people and then submit it to the CM. We are planning to involve students from schools and colleges, working women, senior citizens, differently abled in propelling the camapign forward.
We will make the banners in 4 different languages, Telugu, English, Hindi and Urdu.
We will make the banners in 4 different languages, Telugu, English, Hindi and Urdu.
The RTI Story of Ownership of Footpaths.....
On March 24, 2008, we had filed a Petition at the State Information Commissioner's office seeking information about the Ownership of footpaths on highways within the city. On June 26, 2008, we also filed a reminder but so far there is no news about the date of the posting of the case. What is interesting is that the GHMC is taking up the creation of a few footpaths ( in bits and pieces) on the highways.
The sufferer is the Poor Pedestrian who walks on the carriageway little realising that his life is at risk. When will the authorities wake up and give us back Our Footpaths? Or will the Pedestrian become an extinct species?
The sufferer is the Poor Pedestrian who walks on the carriageway little realising that his life is at risk. When will the authorities wake up and give us back Our Footpaths? Or will the Pedestrian become an extinct species?
Corporate Encroachments: Letter to the GHMC, Comm.
Kanthimathi Kannan
The Right to Walk Foundation
12-2-709/A/22
Karol Bagh Colony
Hyderabad – 500028
Phone: 23510710
Sept 30, 2008
The Commissioner
GHMC
Hyderabad
Dear Sir
Subject: Policy decision needed for non availability of parking for Giant Retail Outlets
The Right to Walk Foundation has been filing petitions regarding the non availability of parking space in four retail outlets. These petitions have been filed from Feb 1, 2008 onwards, under the RTI act, 2005.
1. Reliance Fresh on the road from Masab Tank (main road) to SD hospital,
2. Vodaphone at the Mehdipatnam (next to SBI, Rhythu Bazaar),
3. The retail outlet called MORE (earlier called Trinethra) (Mehdipatnam Chaurastha)
4. The ICICI Bank ( Mehdipatnam Chaurastha)
The GHMC on its part has given responses stating with proof the availability of parking for three (not given for Vodaphone) of these outlets. We have in turn filed our response on June 20, 2008, and also sent several mails to the commissioner’s office regarding the same issue. No action was taken. Again we have filed a petition on July 3, 2008 with the then Addl Comm. Traffic and transportation (Mr. NVS Reddy). No action was taken.
On July 30, 2008, we have filed regarding the same issue but NO ACTION. Again on Aug 21, 2008 we have filed a petition only regarding one of the outlets and we find that still NO ACTION has been taken.
What is interesting is that we have also filed a police reply dated Feb 28, 2008 along with each of the reply petitions from April 2008 onwards but the GHMC officials do not seem to be looking at the police reply and taking action.
Initially when the permission has been granted by the GHMC, these Retail outlets probably showed the parking availability in the cellar and got the necessary trade licenses but along the line, these cellars are actually used for residential parking and parking in each of these cellars for customers is prohibited.
We are also enclosing the GHMC letter that gives the details of the parking requirement of Retail Outlets.
The need of the hour is for the GHMC Commissioner to take a policy decision regarding non availability of parking by Giant Retail Outlets. The question here is not only regarding these four retail outlets but the issue is much larger and needs a policy decision to be taken at the Commissioner’s level.
Even recently there has been a spurt of licenses issued to Outlets like, Spencer’s, Kakatiyanagar,( Near Nanal Nagar Chaurastha), Bowl of China outlets , ( one under the Masab Tank Flyover and the other near Laxmi Nagar Chaurastha, Khadar Bagh).
The Spencer Outlet claim to have parking but the question is it that adequate? And also why should the common man suffer because of the Big Retail Business?
The issues are as follows:
Should Retail Giants have parking of their own? Or is the GHMC planning to provide parking for these big companies too?
What is the parking space rule that needs to be followed by each of these retail outlets? Is it according to the G.O. Ms. No. 86, M.A. dated 03.03.06 or it is going to be modified?
Are the footpaths in front of all retail outlets that face the road, clearly marked and specifically made as access paths? (Here retail outlets include all the shops and establishments)
Is parking on the footpath regarded as parking space or has the GHMC ear marked parking space in each of the Big Retail Outlet?
We sincerely hope that this petition will make the Commissioner’s office take action and ensure that such large business houses do not function if they are not able to provide parking for their customers.
Regards
Kanthi Kannan
The Right to Walk Foundation
www.right2walk.com
Enclosures
Feb 1, 2008. RTI filed in the GHMC
Feb 28, 2008: AP Police reply
March 17, 2008: Petition filed with the Appellate Comm. GHMC
April 8, 2008: GHMC Reply to the RTI stating that Zonal Comm. to be contacted
April 15, 2008: Appeal filed again with the Chief Planner, GHMC.
May 5, 2008: Petition for RTI disclosure filed with the GHMC, Comm.
May 7, 2008: GHMC Reply regarding parking of Reliance, NMDC road.
June 20, 2008: Petition filed with the Comm. GHMC for action against the retail outlet
July 3, 2008: Petition filed with Mr. NVS Reddy (Traffic and Transportation), GHMC
July 30, 2008: Petition filed with the Comm. GHMC for action against the retail outlet
Aug 21, 2008: Petition filed with the Comm. GHMC for action against the retail outlet
G.O.Ms.86 dated 03.03.06
The Right to Walk Foundation
12-2-709/A/22
Karol Bagh Colony
Hyderabad – 500028
Phone: 23510710
Sept 30, 2008
The Commissioner
GHMC
Hyderabad
Dear Sir
Subject: Policy decision needed for non availability of parking for Giant Retail Outlets
The Right to Walk Foundation has been filing petitions regarding the non availability of parking space in four retail outlets. These petitions have been filed from Feb 1, 2008 onwards, under the RTI act, 2005.
1. Reliance Fresh on the road from Masab Tank (main road) to SD hospital,
2. Vodaphone at the Mehdipatnam (next to SBI, Rhythu Bazaar),
3. The retail outlet called MORE (earlier called Trinethra) (Mehdipatnam Chaurastha)
4. The ICICI Bank ( Mehdipatnam Chaurastha)
The GHMC on its part has given responses stating with proof the availability of parking for three (not given for Vodaphone) of these outlets. We have in turn filed our response on June 20, 2008, and also sent several mails to the commissioner’s office regarding the same issue. No action was taken. Again we have filed a petition on July 3, 2008 with the then Addl Comm. Traffic and transportation (Mr. NVS Reddy). No action was taken.
On July 30, 2008, we have filed regarding the same issue but NO ACTION. Again on Aug 21, 2008 we have filed a petition only regarding one of the outlets and we find that still NO ACTION has been taken.
What is interesting is that we have also filed a police reply dated Feb 28, 2008 along with each of the reply petitions from April 2008 onwards but the GHMC officials do not seem to be looking at the police reply and taking action.
Initially when the permission has been granted by the GHMC, these Retail outlets probably showed the parking availability in the cellar and got the necessary trade licenses but along the line, these cellars are actually used for residential parking and parking in each of these cellars for customers is prohibited.
We are also enclosing the GHMC letter that gives the details of the parking requirement of Retail Outlets.
The need of the hour is for the GHMC Commissioner to take a policy decision regarding non availability of parking by Giant Retail Outlets. The question here is not only regarding these four retail outlets but the issue is much larger and needs a policy decision to be taken at the Commissioner’s level.
Even recently there has been a spurt of licenses issued to Outlets like, Spencer’s, Kakatiyanagar,( Near Nanal Nagar Chaurastha), Bowl of China outlets , ( one under the Masab Tank Flyover and the other near Laxmi Nagar Chaurastha, Khadar Bagh).
The Spencer Outlet claim to have parking but the question is it that adequate? And also why should the common man suffer because of the Big Retail Business?
The issues are as follows:
Should Retail Giants have parking of their own? Or is the GHMC planning to provide parking for these big companies too?
What is the parking space rule that needs to be followed by each of these retail outlets? Is it according to the G.O. Ms. No. 86, M.A. dated 03.03.06 or it is going to be modified?
Are the footpaths in front of all retail outlets that face the road, clearly marked and specifically made as access paths? (Here retail outlets include all the shops and establishments)
Is parking on the footpath regarded as parking space or has the GHMC ear marked parking space in each of the Big Retail Outlet?
We sincerely hope that this petition will make the Commissioner’s office take action and ensure that such large business houses do not function if they are not able to provide parking for their customers.
Regards
Kanthi Kannan
The Right to Walk Foundation
www.right2walk.com
Enclosures
Feb 1, 2008. RTI filed in the GHMC
Feb 28, 2008: AP Police reply
March 17, 2008: Petition filed with the Appellate Comm. GHMC
April 8, 2008: GHMC Reply to the RTI stating that Zonal Comm. to be contacted
April 15, 2008: Appeal filed again with the Chief Planner, GHMC.
May 5, 2008: Petition for RTI disclosure filed with the GHMC, Comm.
May 7, 2008: GHMC Reply regarding parking of Reliance, NMDC road.
June 20, 2008: Petition filed with the Comm. GHMC for action against the retail outlet
July 3, 2008: Petition filed with Mr. NVS Reddy (Traffic and Transportation), GHMC
July 30, 2008: Petition filed with the Comm. GHMC for action against the retail outlet
Aug 21, 2008: Petition filed with the Comm. GHMC for action against the retail outlet
G.O.Ms.86 dated 03.03.06
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Who needs footpaths?
Often we hear loud voices of the driver of the private vehicles saying that we need wider carriage ways and definitely do not need a footpath. Is this a fact? If all footpaths were removed and only carriage ways existed, would the traffic move at a much faster pace?
Think about it and you will arrive at the answer. The opposite will happen and the traffic will start crawling at an extremely slow pace. As many studies have clearly shown , 'the intermixing of vehicles and pedestrian movements in the absence of footpaths results in reduced speeds and increase in number of accidents. The provision of footpaths and pedestrian crossings and can reduce these conflicts to a great extent and increase the average speed. This low cost traffic improvement measure can bring out substantial reduction in emissions'.*
**Also data from the AP Police shows the following:
1. Dead: 263 Pedestrians: 263/ 391= 67%
2. Injured: 2047 Pedestrians: 2047/ 3447 = 59%,
3. 170/ 263 = 65% of the deaths to pedestrians occur while they are crossing the road.
4. 1151/ 2047= 56% of the injuries to pedestrians occur while they are crossing the road.
Once the motorised vehicle driver touches a pedestrian, the pedestrian is either dead or badly injured. Normally in India, the motorised driver is the one who is held to be at fault. So either the driver gets beaten up by the crowd or has to abscond fast leaving behind a hit and run case. Which ever way one looks at it, the driver is left behind with a trauma to deal with for life. Can we not avoid all this and make ourselves ( the drivers) safer?
So isn't it high time that we got the footpaths barricaded if necessary and safe pedestrian crossings and ensured that our carriage way was clear and drive worthy?
*Source: Study published by the EPTRI, April 2005.
**Source: AP Traffic Police data (2007)
Think about it and you will arrive at the answer. The opposite will happen and the traffic will start crawling at an extremely slow pace. As many studies have clearly shown , 'the intermixing of vehicles and pedestrian movements in the absence of footpaths results in reduced speeds and increase in number of accidents. The provision of footpaths and pedestrian crossings and can reduce these conflicts to a great extent and increase the average speed. This low cost traffic improvement measure can bring out substantial reduction in emissions'.*
**Also data from the AP Police shows the following:
1. Dead: 263 Pedestrians: 263/ 391= 67%
2. Injured: 2047 Pedestrians: 2047/ 3447 = 59%,
3. 170/ 263 = 65% of the deaths to pedestrians occur while they are crossing the road.
4. 1151/ 2047= 56% of the injuries to pedestrians occur while they are crossing the road.
Once the motorised vehicle driver touches a pedestrian, the pedestrian is either dead or badly injured. Normally in India, the motorised driver is the one who is held to be at fault. So either the driver gets beaten up by the crowd or has to abscond fast leaving behind a hit and run case. Which ever way one looks at it, the driver is left behind with a trauma to deal with for life. Can we not avoid all this and make ourselves ( the drivers) safer?
So isn't it high time that we got the footpaths barricaded if necessary and safe pedestrian crossings and ensured that our carriage way was clear and drive worthy?
*Source: Study published by the EPTRI, April 2005.
**Source: AP Traffic Police data (2007)
Hi Tech City: Is there a difference?
On July 16, 2008, some of us from the Right to Walk Foundation went to Hi Tech city to meet the APIIC GM, who is in charge of construction of roads and footpaths in that area. We found to our horror that right opposite this office, the HSBC was encroaching the footpaths and putting them to a different use. We have since complained to the DCP, Cyberabad Police Station but so far no further progress is made.The footpaths are actually beautiful, width about 12 feet and height about 8 inches. Ideal for walking. Can some one help us out?
Saturday, July 19, 2008
The Car is removed from the Footpath
July 19, 2008
Saw that the car on the Jewellery Showroom footpath was removed. Heard some one say that the car had completed 'its assignment' ( it was a prize for the buyers) and it had nothing to do with the fact that I had complained. What ever be the reason, lets be happy that something has worked!!!
Saw that the car on the Jewellery Showroom footpath was removed. Heard some one say that the car had completed 'its assignment' ( it was a prize for the buyers) and it had nothing to do with the fact that I had complained. What ever be the reason, lets be happy that something has worked!!!
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