Archive · 30 Jul 2026
Pune Lacks Footpaths, Women Face Safety Concerns
Pune city has a lot of roads but most of them don’t have sidewalks, which makes it hard and unsafe for people, especially women, to walk to buses.
The city’s report says only about 747 km of the 2,460 km of roads have sidewalks, which is far below the recommended amount.
A study in March 2026 looked at 540 women who use public transport.
It found that more than half of them walk to bus stops, but a quarter of those who walk say the lack of sidewalks is a big problem.
Women also worry about dirty roads, accidents, and bad lighting, and some avoid walking to get to the bus.
The city is trying to fix these problems after a Supreme Court decision said safe sidewalks are a right for citizens.
PMC reports that about two‑thirds of Pune’s 2,460 km roads lack footpaths, below legal norms.
Only 747 km of roads have sidewalks, according to the 2025‑26 Environment Status Report.
A 2024‑25 assessment found 35 km of cycle tracks on 19 major roads, with 90% not meeting standards.
A March 2026 NGO study of 540 women showed 54% walk to bus stops, but 26% take over ten minutes, and 25% cite missing footpaths as a major problem.
Women also reported dirty roads, accident fears, poor lighting, and insecurity, leading some to avoid walking to public transport.
- Who
- Pune Municipal Corporation and women commuters
- What
- Insufficient footpaths and substandard cycle tracks
- When
- 2025-26 Environment Status Report and March 2026 NGO study
- Where
- Pune city, India
- Why
- Safety concerns and Supreme Court order on pedestrian rights
- Total road length
- 2,460.72 km
- Roads with footpaths
- 747 km
- Percentage of roads without footpaths
- ≈66%
- Cycle tracks assessed
- 35 km on 19 roads
- Women surveyed
- 540