In a significant move to tackle traffic chaos and improve pedestrian safety, the Ranchi Traffic Police inaugurated a dedicated 400-metre-long pedestrian walkway this Wednesday. The new facility, located at the bustling Albert Ekka Chowk on Mahatma Gandhi Road, marks the city's first such pilot project aimed at bringing order to the streets.
A Defined Space for Safer Walking
Officials stated that the primary goal of this initiative is to reduce dangerous jaywalking and alleviate traffic congestion by providing a clearly marked and protected space for people on foot. The walkway has been created by barricading a portion of the main road, effectively creating a corridor exclusively for pedestrians.
This physical separation from moving vehicles is achieved through the use of traffic barricades and bollards along the entire route. The design not only guides foot traffic safely through the busy intersection but also prevents two-wheelers and cars from entering the pedestrian zone, ensuring its sanctity.
Tackling Encroachment and Enhancing Discipline
Beyond managing pedestrian flow, authorities are hopeful the walkway will help control a persistent issue: roadside encroachments. By channelling all pedestrian movement into a defined corridor, it becomes easier to regulate vendors operating at the road edges and prevent their goods from spilling onto the carriageway.
Senior Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Rakesh Kumar emphasized the pioneering nature of the project. "This is the first such initiative in Ranchi, and we are taking it as an example," he said. Kumar added that the design intends to bring discipline to both pedestrians and drivers without disrupting the overall traffic flow.
Future Plans and Public Response
The success of this pilot walkway could lead to a wider rollout across the city. SP Kumar indicated that if the model proves successful, similar pedestrian pathways will be developed in other crowded marketplaces and hazardous traffic zones with high footfall. He also stressed the importance of inter-departmental coordination, noting ongoing efforts with the Ranchi Municipal Corporation for smoother operations and better on-ground management.
The change has been welcomed by citizens who frequent the area. Nilam Das, a local shopper, expressed relief, stating, "This stretch is always crowded, and earlier we had no option but to walk on the road beside moving vehicles. Now there is a fixed space to walk, which makes daily movement much safer." Another visitor, Madhuri Das, echoed the sentiment, appreciating that "pedestrians are no longer mixing with traffic at every step."
The launch of this walkway represents a concrete step towards making Ranchi's streets more organized and safer for everyone, setting a potential benchmark for urban traffic management in the city.
