While planning civic infrastructure, the focus is so much on how to make everything for the convenience of motorists that pedestrians are often left in the lurch. A classic example is that of the international airport road, a signal-free corridor, where motorists zoom past, but it remains a herculean task for pedestrians to cross the road.
A recent study put the average speed of vehicles on the Hebbal flyover and the elevated expressway at nearly 45 kmph.
The Hebbal flyover and the elevated expressway are out of bounds for pedestrians, and that further worsens their ordeal. People who have to go to the Hebbal and Outer Ring Road bus-stops have no choice but to cross the unmanned railway level crossing below the Hebbal flyover.
To make a point that a facility need to be created for safety of pedestrians, a group of around 50 activists led by two persons with disabilities broke traffic rules and took to the street on Hebbal flyover on foot on Sunday.
“The focus of the government seems to be on car drivers rather than pedestrians. Huge sums of public money is spent on building flyovers and underpasses to facilitate fast and smooth movement of cars at the cost of pedestrian safety,” said Kiran, an activist with physical disability, among the protesters.
Meanwhile, Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike has proposed to build three skywalks along the stretch for the benefit of pedestrians. Work on the one near Indian Air Force ASC Centre is in progress, while work is yet to start on skywalks opposite Kaveri theatre and Esteem mall.
