Footpaths for pedestrians: Will these hurdles be cleared?

The Supreme Court ruling on parking policy on September 2, 2019 declared that “footpaths are for pedestrians”. The court criticised the encroaching of footpaths for gardening and installing cabins for security guards. This is one such lane in Greater Kailash-II where the footpath is just for the cabin crew. Photo: Vikas Choudhary

The court ordered that encroachers be given a 15-day notice to remove encroachment. If they fail, municipal authorities will remove it and recover the cost from them as arrears of land revenue. This is another example of a footpath being turned into a personal garden by residents of tony Greater Kailash-II. Photo: Vikas Choudhary

If the offence is repeated, the SC ordered that the authorities may frame rules to withdraw municipal services such as water supply, electricity, sewage connection, etc from the encroachers. Here’s a wide lane in upmarket Defence Colony where it’s impossible for pedestrians to manoeuvre their way through all the parked cars and cabins. Photo: Vikas Choudhary

This residential property in Jungpura has not only been covered with plant pots, but has also been fenced. Photo: Vikas Choudhary

All the municipal corporations in the Capital have been directed to ensure that all pavements in residential areas are cleared from all encroachment to make them usable by pedestrians. Here residents have turned the footpath into a chained-up parking zone. Let’s hope the SC order speeds up sustainable mobility pathways. Photo: Vikas Choudhary