The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's decision to narrow city footpaths to combat encroachment appears to contradict the minimum widths stipulated in its own policy document. Currently, walkways in the city range from 1 to 5 metres, but they are now set to become even narrower.
Standing Committee Chairman's Directive
Standing committee chairman Kamlesh Patel has instructed officials to limit footpath width “wherever possible to prevent illegal occupation,” claiming that excessive pedestrian space often facilitates misuse by hawkers rather than aiding commuters. During a recent meeting, standing committee members insisted that future designs must be “proportionate,” prioritizing practical utility over paved areas built mainly for aesthetics, Patel said.
Existing Policy Standards
However, the AMC’s own document — ‘Comprehensive Policy to address issues of Traffic, Road safety, Encroachment and Cattle Menace for Ahmedabad city’ — sets minimum obstruction-free footpath widths by road type: 2.5 metres in CBD and commercial zones, 2 metres on arterial roads, 1.8 metres on sub-arterial and collector roads, and 1.5 metres in local and residential areas. It requires every redevelopment or repair project to include a continuous, 1.5-metre, kerb- or bollard-protected footpath on both sides, running uninterrupted across driveways and bus stops.
The new directive to narrow footpaths does not specify how officials will comply with the standards outlined in the document.
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