Navigating roads on foot has turned into a daily gamble for residents, especially at high-traffic junctions and national highways. A lethal mix of poor pedestrian infrastructure and careless driving has created an ongoing urban safety crisis.
This issue stems from glaring lapses in city planning and traffic enforcement. At most intersections, basic facilities such as zebra crossings, speed-calming measures, or pedestrian signals are missing. Even where traffic lights exist, crossing intervals are dangerously short—often less than a minute—leaving pedestrians stranded mid-road. To make matters worse, vehicles frequently obstruct the few available crossings, with little to no action from authorities.
Several junctions highlight the gravity of the problem. Kottara Chowki lacks even a painted crosswalk, forcing pedestrians to dodge erratic traffic. At KPT Junction, signals exist but offer neither safe crossing zones nor enough time. Balmatta is perhaps the most hazardous, where people are seen scaling road dividers and navigating past erratically parked buses.
In the Jyothi Circle and Bunts Hostel areas, heavy pedestrian footfall from students and office-goers collides with chaotic traffic, risking daily collisions. Illegal bus parking and absent pedestrian paths make safe passage nearly impossible.
Despite frequent accidents and public complaints, authorities remain indifferent. The absence of footpath upkeep, enforcement of traffic norms, and integration of pedestrian needs in road projects has pushed the situation to the edge. With monsoon rains looming, the already treacherous conditions could become life-threatening.