Restoring Footpaths
Post: In its broadest meaning, “Transport” should also cover pedestrian movement. The most shameful thing about transport facilities in Bengaluru is the large-scale encroachment of footpaths, where they exist, with no one batting an eyelid. New roads come up with scant provision for pedestrian movement. The present Municipal Commissioner is on record as having said,”Only God can save the pedestrian in Bengaluru” (please see bangalore.citizenmatters.in). Apparently, no one in authority wants to play God. This situation HAS TO BE REMEDIED if Bengaluru is to be known as even a modern city, let alone another Singapore. The first thing that can be done is to take up a few locations where good footpaths provided by early-day planners have been encroached upon, and take well-planned action to remove all encroachments. The thing to be avoided is any kind of “regularisation”, which will only lead to unbridled encroachments at other places, knowing they will be “regularised”. I have posted two articles at the citizenmatters website, for which I give links below. They discuss the various types of encroachment, and suggest ways to deal with them. I call for a well-prepared action plan, setting out how the different types of encroachments have to be handled by the concerned authorities, instead of issuing a blanket, “Remove encroachments” order, which will only end up in a few poor vendors being chased away from the footpaths, leaving the real sharks free. Photographs of encroachments on the 2nd Main, Vyalikaval have been provided with my articles. The very good footpaths originally provided on both sides of this road have become heavily encroached, with the eastern side footpath rendered almost dysfunctional. This could be a very good pilot project for encroachment removal, because it is still reclaimable. Please see the links below: http://bangalore.citizenmatters.in/articles/view/416-bangalore-footpath-encroachment http://bangalore.citizenmatters.in/articles/view/427-footpath-encroachments-solutions I am ready to serve in planning and implementing appropriate approaches to this problem.
