MUMBAI — The recent death of a 75-year-old woman, trapped between a BEST bus and a parked car on Malabar Hill, has once again drawn attention to the precarious state of pedestrian safety in the city.
The accident occurred opposite the Sahyadri state guest house, where a narrow sidewalk runs along one side of the road, while illegally parked cars occupy the other—forcing walkers onto the main carriageway.
Shrinking Footpaths, Rising Risks
Residents across Mumbai say navigating footpaths is often akin to running an obstacle course. “I am used to this constant manoeuvring amidst crowds and cars in a narrow lane. I’m not afraid anymore,” says R. Kannan, a Dadar resident who uses Naigaon Cross Road daily.
According to the Mumbai Road Safety Annual Report 2023, 41% of pedestrian accidents were caused by motorcycles and 29% by cars. Fatalities involved cars (25%), two-wheelers (21%) and heavy vehicles (19%).
Filmmaker and activist Ashok Pandit said: “The tragedy is that footpaths have been taken over by hawkers, slums, dhabas, and now even builders.”
Everyday Struggles
In Andheri (W), J.P Road near the civic market and S.V Road subway is notorious for hawker encroachment, making it difficult for shoppers and residents to walk safely. “Parts of S.V Road are simply not walkable. Pedestrians are often at risk of being hit by vehicles,” says Dhaval Shah of the Andheri Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizen’s Association.
Residents also point to residential societies converting footpaths into ramps for vehicle entry. Following complaints, BMC’s K-West Ward recently issued notices to 19 buildings in Juhu to rectify such ramps.
BMC’s Response
BMC Additional Municipal Commissioner Abhijit Bangar said all sidewalks adjoining building gates will have to comply with Indian Road Congress (IRC) walkability standards. “The footpaths will be tapered to grade level for easy access,” he said, adding that a citywide survey is underway.
In its 2025–26 budget, the BMC has allocated ₹100 crore for footpath development. “Footpaths will be extended where possible, assessing the width of the road,” Bangar added.
Call for Smarter Solutions
Activist Rishi Aggarwal, founder of The Walking Project, argues that money alone will not fix Mumbai’s pedestrian woes. “The least that should have been done was disallow car parking and introduce a flexible mechanism like a six-inch curb or a one-meter-wide footpath,” he said.
He urged integration of the Universal Footpath Policy with road projects for a holistic approach. Aggarwal noted that BMC has recently begun engaging with activist groups, citing an April “Walkable Cities Conclave” where Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani admitted the civic body was “not doing enough.”
