The Maharashtra government has issued a significant directive requiring all municipal corporations across the state to dedicate at least one percent of their annual budgets exclusively for road safety initiatives. This move comes in compliance with Supreme Court orders aimed at enhancing pedestrian safety and reducing road accidents.
Comprehensive Road Safety Measures
In a Government Resolution released on Monday, November 10, 2025, the Urban Development Department outlined 14 specific directives that urban local bodies must implement. The order mandates the creation of a separate budgetary head specifically for pedestrian safety, ensuring that funds are utilized solely for road safety-related measures as directed by the Supreme Court in a public interest litigation.
Among the key provisions is the requirement for installing tactile paving at major transportation hubs including bus stands, metro stations, and railway terminals. This initiative aims to significantly improve accessibility for visually challenged individuals, creating more inclusive urban infrastructure.
Regular Audits and Maintenance Protocols
Municipal corporations have been instructed to conduct thorough footpath audits every six months through registered auditing agencies. These assessments will prioritize high-traffic areas such as markets, educational institutions, transport terminals, and popular tourist spots. The audit reports must be submitted to the Urban Development Department along with time-bound repair plans to ensure prompt action on identified issues.
The resolution also emphasizes the importance of maintaining clear pedestrian pathways by removing encroachments from footpaths and pedestrian corridors. Additionally, municipal bodies must ensure proper lighting, cleanliness, and CCTV surveillance on pedestrian bridges and subways to enhance security for pedestrians.
Enhanced Pedestrian Infrastructure and Grievance Redressal
Local civic bodies are required to coordinate with traffic departments to improve pedestrian access and create seamless entry points, waiting areas, and tactile routes. The government has also mandated that zebra crossings must comply with standards set by the Indian Roads Congress and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
Each municipal corporation will establish a dedicated Accessibility and Pedestrian Cell to oversee planning, implementation, maintenance, and grievance resolution. These cells will work in coordination with police departments to identify accident-prone areas and deploy safety personnel where necessary.
The GR further requires civic bodies to survey at least 20 percent of city roads annually to assess the need for new pedestrian crossings. It also emphasizes promoting non-motorized transport such as cycling and walking through appropriate regulations under the Motor Vehicles Act.
To ensure public participation and accountability, all municipal corporations must set up online grievance portals for complaints regarding encroachments, damaged pavements, or other pedestrian facility issues. The resolution mandates that these complaints must be addressed within 15 days of filing.
