Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta has written to Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, urging that pedestrian safety, accessibility and mobility be incorporated as key planning principles in the forthcoming master plan for Mangaluru. The MP referred to a recent Supreme Court judgment recognising the right of citizens to walk safely on demarcated footpaths as a fundamental right, stressing the responsibility of planning authorities and local bodies to create and maintain adequate pedestrian infrastructure.
Representation to multiple authorities
In his representation, also addressed to the minister for urban development, deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada and commissioner of the Mangaluru Urban Development Authority (Muda), the MP said the Master Plan presents an important opportunity to shape the city’s growth for decades. “The government should ensure that pedestrian safety, accessibility and mobility form an integral part of the city’s long-term development vision,” he noted.
Growing need for pedestrian infrastructure
Considering the large number of students, senior citizens, daily commuters and workers who rely on walking as part of their everyday mobility, the provision of safe, continuous and accessible pedestrian infrastructure has become increasingly important as the city expands and traffic volumes grow. The MP called for a comprehensive pedestrian mobility framework within the master plan, including continuous and obstruction-free footpaths, safe pedestrian crossings near schools, colleges, hospitals, markets and transit hubs, universal accessibility standards, integration with public transport systems, and measures to keep footpaths free from encroachments and unauthorised vehicle parking.
Call for pedestrian audit
Capt Chowta also urged the government to undertake a comprehensive Pedestrian Infrastructure & Walkability Audit of Mangaluru before finalising the master plan. “I will be glad to join the district administration, Muda and other concerned authorities in undertaking such an audit so that pedestrian challenges can be understood first-hand and addressed through informed planning interventions,” he added.
