Nagpur: In a landmark move aimed at improving pedestrian safety, the Urban Development Department (UDD) has directed all municipal corporations in Maharashtra, including the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), to earmark 1% of their annual civic budget exclusively for pedestrian safety measures.
The directive comes in the wake of Supreme Court (SC) orders issued during a hearing of the writ petition S. Rajasikaran vs. Union of India, which sought stronger safety mechanisms for pedestrians across the country. Following the court’s intervention, a high-level meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary was held on November 6 in Mumbai, where detailed action points were finalized for urban local bodies.
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Mandatory safety audit within six months
As part of the new guidelines, all municipal corporations must conduct a third-party safety audit of existing footpaths within six months and submit a comprehensive upgradation plan to the State Government. The audit must particularly assess conditions in market areas, near schools, railway stations, and other crowded public zones.
Municipal bodies have also been instructed to create an online complaint mechanism allowing citizens to report damaged or obstructed footpaths. Each complaint must be resolved within 15 days, failing which senior officials will be held accountable for the delay.
To ensure sustained focus, all civic bodies will establish a dedicated Accessibility and Pedestrian Cell for planning and coordinating pedestrian infrastructure. The 1% budget allocation will also be used to create public awareness campaigns promoting road discipline and pedestrian rights.
Non-motorised transport corridors
The UDD’s circular further emphasizes strict compliance with Section 210-D of the Motor Vehicles Rules and Section 138 (1A) of the Motor Vehicles Act (MVA), which mandate dedicated pathways for non-motorised transport such as bicycles, rickshaws, and pedestrian movement. These provisions are intended to make urban roads safer and more inclusive.
Encroachment-free footpaths
In another crucial directive, the State has instructed civic bodies to ensure all pedestrian crossings are equipped with zebra markings, signages, streetlights, and walk signals, designed as per Indian Roads Congress (IRC) and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) norms.
Municipal corporations must also draw up a comprehensive plan to remove encroachments from footpaths and maintain them free of obstructions to guarantee safe passage for pedestrians.
Officials said the initiative marks a significant step toward addressing the rising number of pedestrian fatalities in urban areas and ensuring that civic infrastructure meets safety and accessibility standards for all citizens.
