1 week ago

Andhra Pradesh's Pioneering Pedestrian Safety Policy Targets Safer Footpaths

Andhra Pradesh has created a new plan to make walking safer.

The plan applies to cities, towns and rural areas.

Officials must first inspect footpaths and find dangerous places.

They must repair damaged paths and remove illegal stalls, parked vehicles and other blockages.

Footpaths should be wide, level and usable by wheelchair users.

Special paving and ramps should help people with visual or physical disabilities.

The plan also supports safer crossings and safety equipment on foot overbridges.

People can report problems through a mobile app or website.

Authorities will be judged by how much they reduce accidents and improve footpaths.

Key facts

Policy status: Andhra Pradesh is described as India’s first state to formulate a pedestrian safety policy.
Legal basis: The policy invokes Section 198A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
Andhra Pradesh pedestrian deaths: 1,739 pedestrians were among 8,346 road accident deaths in the state in 2024.
National pedestrian deaths: 36,526 pedestrians were among 1.77 lakh road deaths recorded in India in 2024.
Initial implementation: Road agencies in cities with populations above one million must implement the policy first.
Footpath walking area: Footpaths must provide a minimum two-metre walking area, alongside buffer and multi-utility zones.
Potential penalty: Officials, contractors and consultants can be fined Rs 1 lakh if infrastructure or design failures cause pedestrian death or disability.

indianexpress.com · 1 week ago