Punjab becomes first state to enforce 'Right to walk' for pedestrians; footpaths, cycle tracks along new roads mandatory

The road building agencies building future roads and widening existing ones in Punjab will now be required to build footpaths and cycle tracks to ensure hassle-free movement for pedestrians.

Chandigarh Desk: In a significant development with respect to road safety, Punjab has taken the lead in bringing out the 'Right to walk' for pedestrians by making it mandatory for agencies to build footpaths and cycle tracks along new roads. Navdeep Asija, Traffic Consultant of Punjab Road Safety and Traffic Research Center, Punjab said that the directions have been issued in this regard to the concerned agencies.

Mandatory construction of cycle tracks and footpaths: Under the new set of guidelines, the agencies building future roads and widening existing ones in Punjab will be required to build footpaths and cycle tracks to ensure hassle-free movement for pedestrians, Asija said. He said that the Punjab Chief Secretary VK Janjua has issued the directions to the Traffic department to implement the Supreme Court's order on right to walk issued last year.

'Footpath for walking not occupation': Asija said that Punjab has taken a lead in ensuring hassle-free movement of pedestrians on roads. He said that in the districts where there are encroachments on the footpaths, they will be removed by the local administration. An awareness campaign will be conducted in this regard, he said adding the sidewalk is for walking and not for occupation.

Letter to NHAI: The Punjab government has written a letter to the departments concerned with road construction and the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). In the letter, the NHAI has been asked to prepare an action plan for constructing cycle tracks and footpaths on the roads so that the required budgetary provisions are made in this regard.

Rising road accidents in Punjab: It is significant to mention here that every month more than 10 pedestrians and bicycle riders are killed in road accidents in Punjab because of encroachment on pedestrian footpaths. Many districts do not have cycle tracks in the state. The latest right to walk move is expected to bring down the grim figures.