Ek footpath ki keemat tum kya jaano babu...

A part of the footpath left dug up near Hub Mall in Goregaon East. File pic/Sameer Markande

There is a saying in Hindi: "jaan hatheli pe" (fraught with risks). Same can be true when one dares to walk on city roads and expressways. Official data for the past year says one in five road accident deaths involved pedestrians. Footpath construction is the job of road agencies that are controlled by the state and civic administrations. And if they ever construct footpaths, it is also their duty to free them of encroachments, which is rampant. But the agencies hardly respect pedestrians, and so do the drivers of motorised vehicles. In such a gloomy scenario, the state transport department has come out with a campaign "walk on right" so that the people can assess the risk of incoming vehicles crashing into them.

The transport department is concerned about the deaths on roads, and it seems it cannot do much when other bigger and influential agencies that are more responsible to prevent accidents turn a blind eye. Transport Commissioner Vivek Bhimanwar deserves kudos for raising the life-threatening issue, albeit in his own way, that civic activists have taken up time and again, only to end up in utter disappointment. For the government, be it state or local body, responding to such activism is a matter of lowest priority. Or else, their concern would have reflected in road designs, maintenance and protection of the citizens' right to walk safely. Motorised mode of transport tops the system's agenda. Human beings (and their pair of legs) have no place in the vision of transport development.

Incidentally, Mumbai civic body will be concretising 400 km of roads, arterial and main, at the cost of R6,000 crore. In addition, some other road work is being carried out under the beautification programme ahead of the civic polls. It is a much-touted mission, driven by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The branding of the beautification bouquet says so. PM Narendra Modi will launch it among other projects later this week.

Also Read: Mumbai: Hawkers take over footpath guardrails meant for citizens

Let's hope safe walkways get a priority in the civic scheme of things across the city. If ever built with thoughtfulness, footpaths should also be secured for free pedestrian movement and not fall prey to encroachers, who get protection from a cartel comprising the very people who are expected to guard pavements against unauthorised occupation. However, who dares face the wrath of the nexus that makes a huge gain for the stakeholders. Only a walker is at a loss as (s)he is forced to hire a motorised mode at the doorsteps to travel a short distance, call for a home delivery or just stay indoors.

It is not just about building new footpaths, it also concerns the existing ones, good ones, so to say. They are dug frequently in the name of repairs. The relaying takes months. Currently, the city's most-walked footpath from Bombay Gymkhana to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus is left bare open, with uneven ground and pits. We don't know how many hapless walkers, jostling one another, and hawkers have sprained their ankles. The big difference between the footpaths in VIP areas like Mantralaya precincts and this one, the precious and immensely historic, catches the eye and is felt with pain and fear of tripping. This one is just an example. Its replication can be seen randomly across the city, parts of which aren't walkable for many reasons.

To know the woes, the people in the administration and their political headquarters should take up walking in these areas, without revealing their identity. Their walkathon, if taken up with a clear mind and true purpose, will surely end up in pain and frustration. Running the Mumbai Marathon can be easier than this endeavour. The assignment can only be completed with a resolve: "jaan hatheli par le aaye rey". Any VVIPs dare take it up?

Dharmendra Jore is political editor, mid-day. He tweets @dharmendrajore
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