Bengaluru: Parents across the city are being urged to exercise extreme caution while moving around with their children, as the deteriorating condition of footpaths has emerged as a serious public safety concern. A recently surfaced video, now widely circulating on social media, has drawn attention to how unsafe pedestrian pathways have become, particularly for young children who rely on them daily.
Viral video highlights everyday danger
The video shows a child walking across multiple footpaths in different parts of the city, offering a stark and unsettling reality check. With each step, the visuals reveal how danger seems to lurk almost everywhere on pedestrian routes that are meant to provide safety. Broken slabs, uneven surfaces and poorly maintained walkways dominate the footage, painting a grim picture of the state of urban infrastructure.
What makes the video especially impactful is its simple yet powerful perspective — a child navigating the city on foot. The journey highlights how even short walks can become hazardous, forcing parents to constantly remain on guard instead of feeling reassured by basic civic amenities.
Common hazards captured on camera
The footage documents several recurring problems that pedestrians routinely face. These include displaced or missing paving slabs, open pits, uncovered drains and sharp level differences between footpath sections. In many stretches, the footpaths are rendered unusable due to encroachments, with parked vehicles occupying large portions of walking space.
As a result, pedestrians — including children — are forced to step onto busy roads, exposing them to fast-moving traffic. Random stones placed along walkways, temporary construction debris and poorly finished repair work further add to the risk of tripping or falling.
Residents say these are not isolated issues but part of a broader pattern of neglect. Several footpaths appear to have gone years without proper maintenance, despite repeated complaints to civic authorities.
Children, elderly and disabled most at risk
Urban planners and safety experts point out that poorly maintained footpaths pose disproportionate risks to vulnerable groups. Children, senior citizens and people with disabilities are among those most affected by unsafe walking conditions.
Children often lack the physical awareness or balance to navigate broken surfaces safely, while elderly pedestrians are at higher risk of fractures from falls. For wheelchair users and parents with prams, uneven footpaths and sudden obstacles can make independent movement nearly impossible.
Experts stress that footpaths are not just auxiliary infrastructure but an essential part of urban mobility. When pedestrian spaces are compromised, the entire transport ecosystem becomes skewed in favour of vehicles, leaving walkers exposed and unprotected.
Public reaction and growing concern
The video has triggered widespread discussion online, with parents and citizens sharing similar experiences from different neighbourhoods. Many have said that walking on footpaths in the city now requires constant vigilance rather than offering safety and convenience.
Several residents have pointed out that footpaths often disappear abruptly, forcing pedestrians to negotiate narrow road edges or weave between parked vehicles. Others have highlighted how newly laid footpaths are frequently dug up for utility work and left in an unfinished state for months.
The issue has also renewed criticism of the lack of coordination between civic agencies responsible for roads, utilities and urban planning. Citizens argue that repeated digging and poor-quality restoration undo whatever limited improvements are made.
Advice for parents amid safety concerns
In the absence of immediate corrective measures, parents are being advised to take extra precautions while walking with children. This includes holding children’s hands at all times, avoiding poorly lit or visibly damaged footpaths, and choosing longer but safer routes where possible.
Parents are also encouraged to teach children basic road safety awareness, as many footpaths force pedestrians onto carriageways. However, experts caution that individual vigilance cannot substitute for safe infrastructure.
“Children should not have to learn survival skills just to walk to school or a nearby park,” one urban safety campaigner noted, emphasising that responsibility ultimately lies with civic authorities.
Call for urgent civic action
As the video continues to trend, it is being widely seen as a wake-up call for authorities to prioritise pedestrian infrastructure. Urban planners argue that footpath safety must be treated as a non-negotiable aspect of city planning, rather than an afterthought.
They recommend comprehensive audits of footpaths, uniform design standards, strict enforcement against encroachments and accountability for poor-quality repair work. Regular maintenance, proper drainage covers and barrier-free access are also seen as essential steps toward safer streets.
Conclusion
The viral video has once again exposed the fragile state of pedestrian infrastructure and the everyday risks faced by children in the city. While public attention has brought the issue into focus, long-term solutions will depend on sustained policy action and enforcement. Until meaningful improvements are made, parents are likely to remain anxious, navigating unsafe footpaths that were meant to protect, not endanger, their children.