Encroachments pose a risk to pedestrians in Salem

During construction activities, materials are dumped on the pathways

Parking of vehicles and dumping of construction materials on the pavements force pedestrians to walk on Omalur Main Road, near the New Bus Stand in Salem. —Photo: E. Lakshmi Narayanan

Accidents involving pedestrians are on the rise in the city. However, they are not only to be blamed. Absence of pavements, encroachment of available pathways for vehicle parking and space used for dumping construction materials force them to walk on roads leading to accidents.

Statistics with the city traffic police show that pedestrians were involved in 25 to 30 per cent of the total accidents that result in fatal injuries.

Lacks infrastructure

The city, as it had grown over the years, lacks infrastructure facilities and poor planning that lead to hardship on road users. The available pavements at a few places in the city are either used for parking two-wheelers or encroached upon by shopkeepers to display their products.

Also, during construction activities, materials are dumped on the pathways and pedestrians are forced to walk on roads.

Places near New Bus Stand, Old Bus Stand, railway station, near Government Hospital and market areas where people move in large numbers lack pavements. In the absence of pavements at important junctions like Three Road, Four Road, Five Road and Hasthampatti Roundtana, pedestrians walk on the road and mix up with vehicles resulting in accidents.

“Where are the pavements near bus stands and at junction points?,” asks senior citizen P. Raman.

He said that the lives of pedestrians are in jeopardy while out of the house and wanted pavements at least at important places. The corporation has proposed to construct pavements on Meyyanur Main Road from New Bus Stand at a cost of Rs. 1.5 crore.

Corporation Commissioner S.R. Selvaraj told The Hindu that railings would be installed in pavements near New Bus Stand and other works would be carried out in a phased manner. He said that a comprehensive mobility plan is being prepared for long-term implementation in the city that would provide adequate pathways on all arterial roads.