The Supreme Court has reaffirmed that pedestrians, the most vulnerable road users, have the first right to safe and unobstructed footpaths. Echoing this, Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda recently stated that, from July 1, 2026, commercial establishments encroaching on pavements must remove extensions to restore space for pedestrians.
However, a walk along Neeladri Road paints a very different picture. For residents, especially senior citizens, parents with young children and school-going students, using the footpath is often impossible. Instead, they are forced onto the busy carriageway, putting their safety at risk. The ongoing monsoon has only worsened the situation. Overflowing sewage, stagnant water and foul odour make several stretches of the footpath unusable. In many locations, ongoing civil works have blurred the boundary between the road and the pavement, while excavated sections leave pedestrians with little option but to walk alongside moving traffic. The situation is particularly alarming opposite Parameshwari Complex, where road widening and civil works have reduced the usable road width by nearly 30%, creating a dangerous bottleneck for both motorists and pedestrians. Illegal parking on pavements, hawkers occupying public space with handcarts, and broken or displaced footpath slabs further compound the problem. Together, these obstacles have turned what should be a safe pedestrian walkway into a daily hazard. Residents say the gap between policy and implementation is glaring. While authorities speak of protecting pedestrians' rights, the reality on Neeladri Road tells a different story.
"The need of the hour is swift, time-bound action to restore usable footpaths, remove encroachments, repair damaged infrastructure and ensure safe passage for pedestrians. Until then, walking along Neeladri Road will remain less of a commute and more of an obstacle course".
Tilak
However, a walk along Neeladri Road paints a very different picture. For residents, especially senior citizens, parents with young children and school-going students, using the footpath is often impossible. Instead, they are forced onto the busy carriageway, putting their safety at risk. The ongoing monsoon has only worsened the situation. Overflowing sewage, stagnant water and foul odour make several stretches of the footpath unusable. In many locations, ongoing civil works have blurred the boundary between the road and the pavement, while excavated sections leave pedestrians with little option but to walk alongside moving traffic. The situation is particularly alarming opposite Parameshwari Complex, where road widening and civil works have reduced the usable road width by nearly 30%, creating a dangerous bottleneck for both motorists and pedestrians. Illegal parking on pavements, hawkers occupying public space with handcarts, and broken or displaced footpath slabs further compound the problem. Together, these obstacles have turned what should be a safe pedestrian walkway into a daily hazard. Residents say the gap between policy and implementation is glaring. While authorities speak of protecting pedestrians' rights, the reality on Neeladri Road tells a different story.
"The need of the hour is swift, time-bound action to restore usable footpaths, remove encroachments, repair damaged infrastructure and ensure safe passage for pedestrians. Until then, walking along Neeladri Road will remain less of a commute and more of an obstacle course".
Tilak
