Mysuru's Pedestrian Safety Crisis: Zebra Crossings Replaced by Art, Coordination Lacking
In Mysuru, a city once celebrated for pioneering pedestrian-friendly initiatives like pelican crossing lights and raised pedestrian crossings, basic road safety is now under severe threat. Across several busy junctions, standard zebra crossings have either been replaced with decorative artwork or marked only half the road, leaving pedestrians exposed and confused. This alarming trend has forced students and daily commuters to navigate heavy traffic without clearly visible and legally recognized crossing points, undermining decades of progress in urban walkability.
Coordination Failure Between MCC and Police
The situation has starkly exposed a critical lack of coordination between the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) and the police department. Police officials maintain that creating infrastructure such as zebra crossings, road markings, and pedestrian signal lights is the responsibility of the civic body. In contrast, MCC officials argue that such work must be initiated based on requirements flagged by the user agency, namely the traffic police. This bureaucratic deadlock has left essential safety measures in limbo, with both agencies passing the buck while pedestrians pay the price.
Legal Violations and Ground Realities
Under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and the Motor Vehicles Driving Regulations, zebra crossings are legally mandated to protect pedestrians. Drivers are required to slow down while approaching a pedestrian crossing and stop if a pedestrian is on or near it, granting pedestrians the right of way. However, in Mysuru, the absence or dilution of these markings has effectively weakened that protection on the ground. A reality check by TOI revealed multiple locations where pedestrian crossings have been rendered ineffective, compromising public safety.
Key Problem Areas Identified
At critical junctions such as Chamarajendra Circle (also known as Old Statue Circle), KR Circle, Albert Victor Road, and D Devaraj Urs Road, zebra crossings have been completely covered with artwork, stripping them of their functional purpose. Other intersections, including Field Marshal Cariappa Circle, the JLB Road and Devaraj Urs Road junction, and Javagal Srinath Circle near Rotary School, feature only half the road marked with zebra stripes, making crossings incomplete and unsafe. This haphazard implementation has created hazardous conditions for thousands of residents, particularly students.
Impact on Students and Commuters
At Maharani's College, a group of first-year degree students expressed their daily fear, stating they hold their breath while crossing JLB Road due to the absence of proper pedestrian crossings. Thousands of girl students traverse this road every day, facing heightened risks. The lack of stop lines has compounded the problem, with a police constable noting that vehicle users halt haphazardly at intersections, making it difficult for traffic personnel to regulate movement or stop vehicles to allow safe pedestrian passage, especially during peak traffic hours.
Historical Context and Current Inaction
A former traffic police officer recalled that Mysuru police earlier introduced several pedestrian safety measures, including pelican crossing lights at Chamarajendra Circle, where pedestrians could operate the signal to cross safely. MCC also invested in raised pedestrian crossings in key parts of the city at a cost of around Rs 50,000 each to improve visibility and force vehicles to slow down. Today, however, no such proactive initiatives have been taken by authorities, marking a regression in urban safety standards.
Official Statements and Accountability
Seema Latkar, Commissioner of Police, emphasized that the onus of creating infrastructure, including road markings, zebra crossings, and pedestrian signal lights, lies with the local civic body. She confirmed that police have informed MCC authorities about the issue during road safety meetings, but the work remains undone, with zebra crossings at some locations replaced by artwork. Meanwhile, MCC Commissioner Shaik Tanveer Asif stated that MCC is always ready to assist the police department in creating infrastructure for traffic management and pedestrian safety, but requires inputs from traffic police to proceed, promising to engage with the police commissioner to understand requirements.
