Nagpur’s first Urban Streets Assessment Report, released by the NMC in collaboration with ITDP India, paints a worrying picture of the city’s pedestrian and cycling infrastructure. While a few redesigned stretches show promise, the overall findings raise serious safety red flags.
The assessment covered seven key roads — four redesigned, three untouched — backed by field surveys and feedback from 330 citizens between March and September 2024.
The most alarming findings:
Ring Road, a critical corridor, scored just 6.5 out of 30 — the worst in the study. Over 90% of pedestrians were forced to walk on the carriageway due to broken, missing, or completely absent footpaths. No dedicated cycle tracks or safe crossings exist.
Central Bazaar Road scored only 6.75, plagued by encroachments, poor lighting, and discontinuous walkways. Pedestrians, including school children and senior citizens, are regularly exposed to moving traffic.
Over-speeding is rampant — two-wheelers clocked speeds of up to 75 km/h on urban roads, far beyond safe limits.
Roads like Amravati Road, Shankarnagar Road, and Orange City Road also performed poorly, lacking basic infrastructure for non-motorised users.
These unsafe conditions have made everyday commutes dangerous for thousands, especially vulnerable users.
While Wardha Road A (Ajni to Rahate Colony) emerged as a positive outlier, scoring 24.75 due to better footpaths and junction safety, it remains an exception.
In response, NMC is initiating design corrections and junction upgrades. The report urgently recommends a citywide Non-Motorised Transport (NMT) policy, Safe School Zones, and traffic calming measures to prevent further risks.
“This is a wake-up call,” said Additional Commissioner Vasumna Pant. “Our streets must prioritize people over vehicles.”
👉 Click here to read the latest Gujarat news on TheLiveAhmedabad.com