Mumbai, Sep 23 (Mumbai Mirror): A poster, declaring that jaywalking is a crime and that any accident caused by it will render the insurance money invalid, has mysteriously sprung up right next to Sena Bhavan in Dadar, enraging pedestrians and local politicians alike, who say that Mumbai first needs to have adequate infrastructure to deter people from walking on the road.

While the banner doesn't bear the logo or name of the issuing authority, labourers engaged in Metro 3 project at the spot said that their contractor put it up to encourage people to walk on the pavements so that it didn't create obstacles in their work.

The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC), however, denied its role in it. The BMC has also washed its hands of the matter.

The poster cites the pertinent section of Bombay Police Act under which jaywalking is a crime. The text, written in both English and Mararthi, says, "Please walk on footpath. Jay walking is crime. Accident insurance may be invalid u/s 131 of Bombay Police Act."

According to section 131 of the Bombay Police Act (read with section 33), the traffic police can make rules for regulation of traffic in a public place. Jaywalking is a crime as per the act, which means that in areas where footpaths are available, people should not walk on roads.

Pedestrians are livid.