Pedestrian deaths in traffic accidents continue to remain high in the city with 405 people getting killed this year (till August) in and around the city. Of these, 284 were killed in Cyberabad and the remaining in Hyderabad. This figure even exceeds the number of deaths of two-wheeler riders that stood at 311 in both Hyderabad and Cyberabad in the same period.
Although pedestrians are not connected to thoroughfares in a big way like those driving or travelling in vehicles, a majority get killed in different road accidents in the city. Last year 420 pedestrian deaths were reported in Cyberabad alone while another 180 died in Hyderabad. The pattern continues to remain the same each passing year with seemingly little being done to reduce the accidents. A basic point is that apart from awareness campaigns, a determined and coordinated effort by different stakeholders like Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, National Highways Authority etc., is apparently missing.
As a routine practice, traffic police write to the civic authorities to provide foot overbridges, encroachment-free pavements, street-lighting, road signage, barricades to pavements and subways so that the pedestrians cross the road safely. But the enthusiasm is not shown by all departments to redress the issue.
If providing adequate pavements is one thing, civic authorities should also ensure these spaces are barrier free and also make citizens aware of the dangers of walking on the road.
ASIF YAR KHAN
