The Maharashtra government on Monday directed all municipal corporations in the state to allocate at least one per cent of their annual budget for road safety, traffic discipline and public awareness initiatives, in line with the Supreme Court’s directions on pedestrian safety.
The Supreme Court, in its order in a public interest litigation, ruled that every civic body must open a separate budget for pedestrian safety and use the funds exclusively for measures related to road and pedestrian safety.
A government resolution (GR) issued by the Urban Development Department on Monday sets out 14 directions for all urban local bodies.
Among the key measures is the provision for the installation of concrete paving at major public transport hubs – including bus stops, metro and railway stations – to ensure better accessibility for people with visual impairment.
Civic bodies are being asked to coordinate with the traffic department to improve pedestrian access and provide “seamless entry, waiting areas and concrete roads”.
Municipal corporations have also been instructed to conduct footpath audits every six months through registered audit agencies, giving priority to crowded areas such as markets, schools, colleges, transport stations and tourist sites.
The audit report, along with the time plan for repairs, must be submitted to the Urban Development Department.
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Further, the order directs all civic bodies to remove encroachments from footpaths and footpaths, maintain proper lighting, cleanliness and CCTV monitoring on footbridges and subways, and ensure that zebra crossings comply with IRC and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) guidelines.
Each municipal corporation will also establish an ‘Accessibility and Pedestrian Cell’ to oversee planning, implementation, maintenance and redressal of grievances. The order stated that accident-prone areas must be identified in coordination with the police, and safety personnel must be deployed when necessary.
GR has asked the civic bodies to ensure that at least 20 per cent of the city’s roads are surveyed annually to assess the need for new pedestrian crossings, while non-motorized modes of transport – such as cycling and walking – should be promoted through appropriate regulations under the Motor Vehicles Act.
All municipal corporations have been asked to set up an online grievance portal for complaints regarding encroachments, damaged pavements or pedestrian facilities, with a mandatory resolution within 15 days.
(tags for translation) Maharashtra
