Residents of Bellandur are adding a new dimension to the fight for pedestrian space on Outer Ring Road. Under the banner of Bellandur Jothege, a civic group, they are proposing model footpaths in the neighbourhood: not just to promote pedestrian safety, but also to encourage people to leave their vehicles and walk instead.
And impressed by the efforts, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike has agreed to extend all support.
The group, which was formed after the death of a young security guard on Outer Ring Road who was hit by a car while trying to cross the road, has submitted a detailed project proposal, which is called Bellandur Walks, to Mayor R. Sampath Raj.
Speaking to The Hindu , Naresh Sadasivan, a member of Bellandur Jothege, said: “Even though lakhs of people come to Bellandur each day, this area has been ignored in terms of infrastructure, especially for pedestrians. Our idea to make the area a place where people can walk or be wheeled safely and unencumbered.” The group has identified 28 km of walking area in and around Bellandur where the model footpath can be constructed. “But to begin with, we want to focus on 4 km of the stretch as a pilot. We are looking at a triangular stretch from Wipro to ORR junction and Motherhood Hospital on Sarjapur Road first,” Mr. Sadasivan said.
According to the design, the footpaths will have permeable rubber tiles, waste bins, composters, sleek bus stops, and hawking zones. “The rubber tiles will ensure the utilities below the footpath are easily accessible. We are trying to ensure that the footpaths do not eat too much into the carriageway and the design will vary depending on the road width. Also, barriers will be put to ensure safety of pedestrians and to keep two-wheelers away from the footpath,” he added. The group has had a round of talks with the Mayor. “We will be reaching out to our MLA as well. Before the weekend, we will be giving the BBMP a technical proposal,” he said.
Calling it an interesting project, the Mayor said: “The group is serious about this and we want to encourage public participation. I have asked them to work with the Joint Commissioner and engineer to prepare a DPR.” On whether the BBMP will fund the project, he said: “We have funds for infrastructure projects and it can be utilised.”
