Bihar Government Mandates Statewide Footpath Clearance by 2026 to Protect Pedestrians
In a decisive move to address growing concerns over pedestrian safety, the Bihar government has issued stringent directives to eliminate all encroachments from footpaths across the state. Development Commissioner Mihir Kumar Singh, during a high-level road safety review meeting, has instructed the Urban Development and Housing Department to ensure complete clearance of footpaths by the deadline of March 31, 2026.
Restoring Footpaths for Safe Pedestrian Movement
The initiative aims to reclaim footpaths for their original purpose—providing safe and convenient passage exclusively for pedestrians. This comes amid escalating worries about road accidents and chaotic urban traffic conditions. According to an official statement released by the department on Thursday, footpaths in numerous Bihar cities are routinely occupied by illegal encroachments.
These encroachments include:
- Unauthorized extensions of shops and commercial establishments
- Roadside stalls and makeshift vendors
- Storage of construction materials and debris
- Private vehicle parking occupying pedestrian spaces
- Various other commercial activities obstructing walkways
The statement emphasized that as a direct consequence of these obstructions, pedestrians—particularly vulnerable groups such as children, women, elderly citizens, and persons with disabilities—are compelled to walk on main roadways. This dangerous practice significantly increases accident risks for both pedestrians and vehicle operators.
Priority Areas and Implementation Strategy
An official familiar with the directive highlighted that the encroachment problem is especially acute around critical public spaces. "Areas surrounding schools, hospitals, markets, bus stands, railway stations, and major intersections experience the most severe impacts on pedestrian safety," the official explained.
Authorities have been instructed to prioritize these high-traffic locations, remove all encroachments comprehensively, restore footpaths to their original condition, and ensure these spaces remain dedicated solely to pedestrian movement. The directive applies uniformly across both rural and urban regions of Bihar.
Comprehensive Road Safety Measures
The transport department, in collaboration with other stakeholders, will identify accident-prone locations commonly referred to as black spots throughout the state. At these high-risk areas, new footpaths will be constructed to provide safer walking alternatives for residents.
In densely populated urban zones, special emphasis has been placed on identifying locations and constructing footpaths that adhere strictly to established road safety standards. This initiative aligns with broader government programs like Saat Nischay-3, which aims to strengthen pedestrian infrastructure through multiple components:
- Implementation of properly marked zebra crossings
- Construction of foot overbridges and underpasses
- Installation of escalators at key pedestrian points
- Enhanced CCTV surveillance for monitoring
- Overall promotion of orderly traffic movement
These comprehensive measures are designed to systematically reduce road accidents while creating a more pedestrian-friendly urban environment across Bihar. The 2026 deadline provides authorities with a clear timeframe to execute this significant public safety initiative, potentially transforming how pedestrians navigate Bihar's cities and towns.
