Walking from Pragati Maidan metro station to the office complexes on Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg and Indraprastha Marg and vice-versa will soon become easier as the Public Works Department (PWD) is planning to widen the walkway under the Tilak Bridge.
Presently, the walkway is too narrow for even two people to walk together. With the lane next to the walkway being used largely by buses headed towards Mathura Road, officials said the carriageway could be narrowed down to widen the walkway.
“We are planning to widen the walkway for smooth and safe passage of the pedestrians. A proposal for the changes will be prepared soon,” a senior PWD official said.
The walkway has been a troublesome spot for thousands of pedestrians who use it on a daily basis. It also becomes a security hazard for women, especially in the evening. There have been instances of eve-teasing and snatching here.
As per estimates, the footfall at Pragati Maidan metro station varies from 15,000 to 20,000. Of this, a sizeable number heads to the office complexes across the Tilak Bridge.
Since the walkway is very narrow and about a couple of feet higher than the road, PWD had in the past installed an iron railing to provide support to the passersby and prevent them from falling on to the road. But many of these iron structures have been cut and stolen by thieves and drug addicts. As such the pedestrians still run the risk of tripping off the walkway and getting injured.
