MCC plans major footpath upgrades for pedestrian safety

Mysuru: The city residents will soon be able to enjoy using safe, walker-friendly streets thanks to Mysuru City Corporation, which will soon upgrade footpaths across the city.

The proposed improvements include repairing broken pavements, removing encroachments, improving drainage to prevent waterlogging, and ensuring smoother, even surfaces for senior citizens, children, and people with disabilities.

Officials also plan to add clearer road crossings, better streetlighting, and protective barriers in high-traffic areas to reduce the risk of accidents. By creating pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, the corporation aims to ensure the safety of pedestrians.

Residents have welcomed the initiative, saying that safer footpaths will make daily commutes, school routes, and short errands more convenient and secure for everyone. Shanthamurthy and Rathnamma of T Narasipura said the city lacks proper, flat footpath space for pedestrians to commute safely and without any fear of being hit by vehicles. Pedestrian crossings are missing, and footpath spaces are either encroached or uneven, they said.

MCC has initiated measures to make footpaths more walker-friendly and to encourage safer pedestrian movement across key parts of the city. The Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT) is assisting the civic body in planning and upgrading pedestrian infrastructure.

MCC deputy commissioner (development) CS Manju said that MCC is preparing a detailed project report (DPR) focused on improving footpaths, particularly in areas where pedestrian movement is consistently high. The DPR is expected to map existing footpath conditions and prioritise stretches that require immediate attention due to heavy footfall and traffic conflict points.

An officer informed that priority locations include bus stands, railway stations, major junctions, commercial stretches, and market areas where pedestrians frequently spill onto roads due to encroachments, uneven surfaces, or the absence of dedicated walking space.

The proposed upgrades are expected to address common issues like broken slabs, uneven levels, poor drainage that leads to waterlogging, and obstacles that block walking space, besides creating safer crossings and better pedestrian continuity at intersections and junctions, where conflicts with vehicles are typically highest, like Hardinge Circle.