Dear Fellow Pedestrian,

I confess. I swore for the nth time as a speeding car missed me by an inch, its rear view mirror oblivious to my shock as I stood in a cloud of dust. I still had an entire stretch to cover (sin footpath) before I made it to the bus stand, an entirely dug-up stretch, paver-block-strewn and trenched for cabling.

I am sure this is the state of most roads in the city as utilities like MTNL, Mahanagar Gas and mobile companies rush to lay cables and pipes between November and June, a period permitted by BMC for roadwork. It is appalling how newly repaired roads and footpaths are haplessly drilled and dug in peeving patchworks, making an utter mockery of us taxpayers. Holding the BMC responsible for our namesake footpaths and bad roads is somehow pointless. In fact, only a few days ago the BMC passed a new rule hiking the cost of random and frequent roadwork on newly constructed roads, four times the regular cost. As per the new trenching guidelines. , restoration of dugout roads will have to be completed within seven days following trenching activity. How do you check? Well, technically the contractors have to put up a board stating duration of construction work (which is never done). Utility agencies undertaking trenching of newly constructed roads will have to shell out four times the amount, costs of which will reduce on subsequent ageing of the road. The BMC will also make available its own plans for construction work and encourage utilities to time their projects accordingly to avoid rampant digging.

Moreover, utility agencies often do a shoddy job of filling up and leveling. It is then the daily commuter who has to pay the price of ankle sprains, knee injuries and sometime even with their life. While roadwork is unavoidable, there needs to be a check on the time taken to complete the job because the delay is enough to maintain that dust allergy and cold. I flinch even at the thought of our elderly folk undertaking suicide walks to the vegetable vendor or the grocery shop across the road. Speaking of our vegetable vendor who has saved us a walk to the market and our valuable time by occupying the only footpath across the road, I feel like a hypocrite. We dutifully smile at him and call him ‘kaka’ in exchange for the carrots mum needs to prepare the halwa.

Infact, to tackle the problem of hawkers and beggars claiming portions of the walkway and streets, the BMC has even narrowed footpaths, yet you find yourself dodging, hopping and alternating routes. Sometimes I wonder if we can even afford to have a walkway. The roads are so narrow and with cars parking at will along the sides, it is as good as a honking orchestra. The plight of the pedestrian has been ignored for so long that we have stopped caring, haven’t we? But, don't stop caring! Don't lose hope!



Mybluntkut: Through this post, I wish to bring to light the measures undertaken by the BMC for a better future and keep even the slightest ray of hope alive.