‘Footpaths today, encroached tomorrow, pedestrians at risk’

Nagpur: "One of my acquaintances was hit by an auto driver while he was walking on the road as there was no footpath. Nowadays, cycles and two-wheelers openly ride on footpaths. Footpaths built for pedestrians are being encroached upon. Authorities must protect the rights of common people and clear footpaths so pedestrians can walk safely. We understand people need to run businesses, but you cannot risk others' lives. Lack of proper footpaths will only lead to more accidents." Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari made these remarks during a road safety event last year, calling upon civic officials and police to ensure safe and encroachment-free footpaths.But the situation on the ground showed little improvement. In several parts of the city, footpaths meant for pedestrians remain either encroached upon or poorly maintained, forcing people to walk on busy roads and exposing them to the risk of accidents. Citizens said that despite repeated directives from Gadkari, the issue continued to persist across many localities.
The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and the city police often faced criticism from residents for failing to effectively address the problem. Gadkari himself pulled up civic officials on multiple occasions regarding the condition of footpaths and the continued encroachments on them. Yet, residents claimed that consistent action against violators was rarely visible.For many pedestrians, the problem became a daily struggle. In busy areas such as Mahal, Sitabuldi, Wardha Road, Khamla, IT Park Road, Dharampeth, and others, footpaths are often occupied by parked vehicles, street vendors, temporary stalls, or construction material. As a result, pedestrians — including elderly citizens, children, and persons with disabilities — are left with little choice but to walk along crowded roads.Vaibhav Deshpande, a regular commuter in Mahal, believed that the city's infrastructure planning often overlooked pedestrians. "Crores are spent on widening roads every year, but pedestrians are left with no place to walk. Even when money is spent on building footpaths, these are quickly taken over by parking, vendors, and other encroachments," he said.Deshpande added that stricter penalties could serve as a strong deterrent. According to him, repeated encroachments should attract heavy fines ranging from ₹15,000 to ₹20,000 so that offenders think twice before blocking pedestrian pathways.Another resident, Saksham Bante said enforcement remained the biggest challenge. "The problem is not the absence of plans but the absence of enforcement. Footpaths are constructed but remain unusable because encroachers are rarely penalised," he claimed.Bante added that unless authorities began taking consistent and strict action against those occupying footpaths, pedestrians would continue to be pushed onto the roads, putting their safety at serious risk.With traffic volumes steadily rising in Nagpur, citizens said ensuring safe, accessible, and encroachment-free footpaths was crucial for improving road safety and making the city more pedestrian-friendly.