Book Review - Where are our Footpaths?

Where are our footpaths?

(Book Review by Dr P Vyasamoorthy)

Everyone knows that most roads and streets have no footpaths and if there are any footpaths, they are encroached forcing pedestrians walk on the road, exposing themselves to danger of accidents and mishaps. Senior citizens are especially vulnerable as they suffer from loss of hearing, poor vision, imbalanced gait, slow motor response etc.  

This is a 56 pages booklet authored by Prof Dr BR Sant. He is a retired scientist who has spent his retirement days musing (rather anguishing?) over the problem of disappearing footpaths, pedestrian safety, accident-prone-roads etc. Arising out his experience in using the roads and sidewalks, taking it up problems in usage and safety with concerned authorities, discussing the issue in various forums to create awareness and public support, he has come up with this publication.

He categorizes footpath encroachments into three: 1) The hawkers and vendors, 2) shop owners and 3) house/property owners.  First two categories limit their harm to specified periods but the house owners’ atrocities have permanent effect. He explains what can be done by whom. All stake holders viz pedestrians, civic bodies, municipalities, govt departments, police and their roles and responsibilities are brought out. Restoring Footpaths Mission, RFM as he abbreviates it, is the need of the day. Achieving 100% encroachment free footpaths (EFF) is his dream.

The book has a sprinkling on the role of RTI, PIL, Media, govt authorities in his mission. Talks of judicial apathy, tardiness of GHMC, inadequate sporadic activity by

police as against continuous efforts.  Action plan outlined in the book, if heeded to by authorities concerned, will pave way for better pavements.

A detailed article by Dr Sant is published elsewhere as a blog post:

http://vyasa-kaaranam-ketkadey.blogspot.com/2018/09/pederstrian-friendly-city-footpaths.htmlhttp://vyasa-kaaranam-ketkadey.blogspot.com/2018/09/pederstrian-friendly-city-footpaths.html 

I suggest that If you are interested in his mission, you may try to enlist the support of NGOs like: Roadkraft Society of Hyderabad, Trimulgherry and CoRPS - Concern for Road and Pedestrian Safety, Bangalore.

Copies may be had from: Prof BR Sant, Block B Flat 111, Saket Pranam, Kapra Hyderabad 500103  / brsant@rediffmail.com /  +91 8790182330