Pedestrians, however, claim that instead of removing foothpaths altogether, what is needed is for them to be resurfaced, and that since smaller roads have more pedestrians than vehicles, the suggestion offered would not be fruitful.
The proposal by former deputy mayor and now BJP's Bandra Corporator, Alka Kerkar, to get rid of footpaths on one side of roads, has found its place on the agenda of the BMC's house scheduled for June 20. Kerkar claims this will help decongest roads as the number of vehicles have increased. Pedestrians, however, claim that instead of removing foothpaths altogether, what is needed is for them to be resurfaced, and that since smaller roads have more pedestrians than vehicles, the suggestion offered would not be fruitful.
"I have made this proposal because smaller homes have made way for high rises. The number of vehicles has increased in the city. Therefore, I am suggesting that foothpaths on one side of roads should be cleared to make way for wider roads," she said when asked about her proposal.
Kerkar's proposal reads, "Keep foothpath on one side instead of having it on either sides."
Her proposal is only for inner lanes and smaller roads as wide as 30 ft, not for highways. However, pedestrians claim that smaller roads have a lot of people walking on foothpath rather than vehicles. "Smaller lanes, have a lot of homes on their sides. Without a foothpath, BMC will endanger the lives of people, especially the old, who use the foothpath. Instead, BMC should spend on making them accessible, resurface them, and keep them free from hawkers," said Aditya Paul, resident of Vile Parle.
Kerkar claims that her suggestion is based on requests from local residents. "Many residents approached me asking for foothpaths to be removed from one side of the road. I agreed with the suggestiona and hence have given the proposal," she said.
& Analysis
In a city like Mumbai, foothpaths, especially those devoid of hawkers, is a luxury that not many places can boast of. Most often, hawkers and people also reside on them encroach upon the footpaths. Taking away one side of the foothpaths would mean lesser space for pedestrians, forcing them to walk on the road, which is usually filled with vehicles, therefore more dangerous.
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