Nagpur: Acting on the directions of the Supreme Court, the Maharashtra Urban Development Department (UDD) has instructed all Municipal Corporations in the state to allocate 1% of their annual civic budget towards implementing safety measures for pedestrians. Additionally, the UDD has ordered civic bodies to conduct a third-party safety audit of footpaths within six months and submit a time-bound upgradation plan to the State Government.
The move follows a Supreme Court hearing on a writ petition filed by S. Rajasikaran versus the Centre, which sought improved pedestrian safety infrastructure across urban areas.
A meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary in Mumbai on November 6 outlined a series of measures to improve pedestrian safety in cities. As per the directive, the earmarked funds will be used to raise public awareness on road safety rules and promote responsible behaviour among road users.
The UDD has also asked civic bodies to establish a dedicated Accessibility and Pedestrian Cell for better coordination on pedestrian-related issues.
Third-Party Audits and Public Feedback
Municipal Corporations have been instructed to carry out third-party audits, particularly focusing on footpaths near schools, markets, railway stations, and other crowded zones. Furthermore, corporations must create an online platform for citizens to report footpath-related complaints. Defects reported are to be resolved within 15 days, failing which senior officials will be held accountable for delays.
Design, Accessibility, and Encroachment Removal
The UDD emphasized adherence to Section 210-D of the Motor Vehicles Rules and Section 138 (1A) of the Motor Vehicles Act, mandating dedicated pathways for non-motorised transport such as bicycles and rickshaws.
Additionally, civic bodies have been asked to ensure that all pedestrian crossings are equipped with zebra markings, signages, streetlights, and walk signals as per the IRC and MoHUA harmonised guidelines. The directive also stresses the need for systematic removal of encroachments from footpaths and maintaining them obstacle-free for pedestrian safety.
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