BMC needs to keep people at centre of its plans

The Aarey land has now got the status of a reserved forest. File pic/Satej Shinde

As the BMC focuses on constructing the main Aarey Milk Colony road using cement they may have overlooked an important aspect for pedestrians. The lack of designated space for pavements for pedestrians is giving rise to safety concerns.

Thousands of people reside inside Aarey Milk Colony, and the main road is also used by hundreds of pedestrians daily, including morning and evening walkers. Aarey Milk Colony draws nature lovers, too. The lack of public space or footpaths for walking is a concern, as senior citizens and children also have to walk on the road, risking their lives.

Some locals were surprised that while building the new concrete road, India's richest civic body didn't consider pedestrians. They said in a report in this paper that it is a nightmare to walk on this road. One has to combat dust pollution and avoid being hit by speeding vehicles. Since there are no designated spaces for pedestrians, the walkers are miserable as traffic jams cause bikers, autorickshaws, and other vehicles to clog the entire space, they said.

Pedestrians need to be factored in when building such infra. They are being pushed off the road, even with footpaths designated for them. These are encroached by food stalls, hawkers, small shops or even parked bikes. These are cleansed periodically and yet, it is till a very dangerous walk for pedestrians who skirt vehicles and are practically brushing past cars and buses when negotiating the roads.

About Aarey specifically, it is vital that space is reserved for walkers as they themselves are pointing out they have no space.

This makes walkers feel vulnerable and without power, they have no voice or space in the equation. Give pedestrians their rights and use of the road. It is no use talking about cutting car travel when heels are being pushed out of the picture completely by facilities for wheels.