Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Mar 9: Mangaluru is one among the leading ‘Smart Cities’ in the country. However, the footpaths in the city, which exist in only at a few places, are not fit and comfortable for the pedestrians. In certain places, they are in such a bad shape that they can cost you your life if you are not careful enough.

One such footpath is located on the road near Infosys building at Kottara towards Kulur. This footpath which is steep, is so narrow that it is difficult for even one person to walk along.

During the rainy season rainwater gets collected on the main road here. Because of the fear of losing lives, the pedestrians find it impossible to cross this road in standing water, says retired bank officer P Raghunath Kamath. The locals say that the problem is created because of the hesitation of the city corporation to acquire additional land needed for building a comfortable footpath. The road is such that if the vehicle moving on the road swerves a little to the side, the pedestrian is forced to jump down the deep gorge next to the road.

In many roads, no proper provision has been made for the pedestrians. In certain roads, for a person to easily move forward, he should at least use a bicycle. Because, there is no space for the pedestrians to walk or cross the road.

Even though there has been some improvement on the footpath facility in the heart of the city, they are not people-friendly. The footpath from Navbharat Circle to PVS Circle and again from there to TMA Pai International Convention Centre, and from Father Muller to Falnir, are quite dangerous. Many of these spaces are occupied by stalls and vegetable vendors. The road between Dr B R Ambedkar Circle to Bunts Hostel which is steep also does not have a proper footpath.

City mayor Premananda Shetty, noted that in some places, footpath contacts in the centre of the city has been severed. He said that steps would be taken to lay footpath wherever space is available. He stated that the option of availing land for footpath through TDR system will also be explored. He said that when both these things are not possible, the option of building railing to ensure safety of pedestrians will be examined.