Mumbai: Footpaths to have obstructions to keep vehicles away

A 2007 picture showing autos parked on footpaths. BMC says it will ensure that the height of pavements is also increased. Pic/Getty Images

The city's pavements and footpaths will now have stronger obstructions to prevent entry of vehicles. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), after being pulled up by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray over the footpaths being easily accessible by drivers to avoid traffic, has written to the infrastructure department saying stronger bollards need to be placed.

The chief minister and environment minister Aaditya Thackeray both have been asking the civic body to ensure a pedestrian-first Mumbai, but it is yet to be achieved. And thus, in a meeting with municipal commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal last week, the CM instructed that the safety point of view of the pedestrians on promenades of Bandra, Worli and Marine Drive, should be checked thoroughly. It was following these instructions that the BMC has sprung into action to install more benches and bollards here. There were also suggestions over checking the elevation of the footpaths at Marine Drive which was to be done by the BMC officials so as to discourage motorist who could drive onto pavements, said civic body sources. Currently, it is common practice for two-wheeler drivers to enter footpaths to beat slow-moving traffic on roads.

The BMC was also instructed to keep a check on the outfalls of storm water drains and sewerage lines and keep them safe from antisocial elements. The BMC will be taking immediate action at about 10-odd locations. A civic official confirmed the meeting of the CM with the BMC, saying, "Obstructions will be placed at the earliest to ensure there is no possibility of vehicles being driven on footpaths."

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