A day after the Supreme Court affirmed citizens' fundamental right to walk on unobstructed footpaths, a mobility assessment by RITES has laid bare Nagpur's severely deficient pedestrian infrastructure. The survey found that nearly half of the city's roads are without footpaths, and many existing sidewalks are either encroached upon, damaged, or dangerous to use.
Survey Findings: 46.1% of Roads Lack Footpaths
Of the 643.6 km road network assessed in Nagpur, a staggering 296.9 km (46.1%) has no footpaths at all. On the remaining 53.9% of stretches where sidewalks exist, only 42.2% have footpaths on both sides, while 11.7% have them on just one side. This forces pedestrians to abruptly step onto busy roads, risking accidents.
Existing Footpaths: Hazardous and Encroached
For lakhs of pedestrians, the crisis extends beyond statistics. Existing footpaths in several parts of the city are riddled with uneven surfaces, broken paving blocks, open manholes, exposed utility chambers, and missing slabs, making them virtually unusable. In commercial hubs such as Sitabuldi, Mahal, Itwari, Gandhibagh, Cotton Market, Sadar, and Sakkardara, sidewalks have been taken over by hawkers, unauthorized vendors, vehicle dealers, and shopkeepers extending their businesses onto public space. The result is that pedestrians—including schoolchildren, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and women carrying children—are routinely pushed onto carriageways shared with speeding vehicles, buses, and heavy traffic.
Supreme Court Ruling and Civic Responsibility
The findings assume significance in the wake of the Supreme Court's observations that the right to walk safely on demarcated footpaths is intrinsic to the fundamental right to life under Article 21, and that civic bodies are duty-bound to keep sidewalks free from encroachments.
Impact on Metro Ridership
MahaMetro MD Shravan Hardikar admitted that inadequate pedestrian infrastructure around stations impacts Metro ridership. "Ease of access within a 500m radius of stations certainly affects commuter choices. We are working with civic agencies to improve connectivity and develop continuous, barrier-free walkways," he said.
Neglect Despite Anti-Encroachment Drives
Ironically, despite repeated anti-encroachment drives and claims of making Nagpur a walkable and sustainable city, even the limited pedestrian infrastructure available continues to remain neglected. Urban planners say reclaiming footpaths from encroachers and repairing damaged sidewalks may be among the cheapest yet most effective interventions for improving road safety and quality of life in the city.
