The lack of pedestrian facilities is a grave issue confronting the city even as schools are set to reopen next week, more so when it rains. Against the backdrop of the tragic death of a woman who accidentally stepped into a drain in Kozhikode, apprehensions are rife over the safety of students who go by foot to school. As per the data available, more than 100 students were injured due to various hurdles on the footpaths last year.
The condition of the footpaths in the city is no different this year. Parents and school authorities have already come up against the lackadaisical attitude of the authorities concerned in improving the pedestrian infrastructure. “The footpaths are open at several places in the city. They are uneven with the concrete slabs out of place. The situation is similar in both urban and rural areas. The footpaths, which are in a dilapidated condition are definitely a threat to children who walk to school,” they said.
According to the authorities of a private school in Pachalam, the footpaths near the school are disappointing. “The iron rods that protrude from the slabs pose a threat to children. There are possibilities of children slipping into drains over which the slabs are placed, owing to their misalignment,” they said.
The office-bearers of the PTA of various schools demanded the renovation footpaths and reiterated the need for making them children-friendly especially for the physically-challenged. “There is a growing demand for making our footpaths friendly for the physically-challenged. Though authorities are conducting beatification work of footpaths at some places, the work is far from perfect. In many places they are likely to fall if they do not watch their steps due to gaps and difference in height of the slabs and broken and displaced tiles,” said T U Ramesh, a parent.
Meanwhile, members of Janakeeya Prathikarana Vedhi said that the dilapidated condition of the footpaths in the city shows the Kochi Corporation’s apathy towards their development.
“The divisional councillors are yet to submit any report seeking footpath repair work in their area,” said a Corporation official.
The Vedhi members also said that authorities are yet to learn a lesson from last year’s incident in which a woman suffered injuries after her leg got trapped between the slabs on the footpath in the city. “Finally, fire and rescue personnel had to work over an hour to free her,” Said Antony Puthur, president of the Vedhi.
Meanwhile Ernakulam District Collector P I Sheikh Pareeth said that the issue pertains mostly to the city. “It is the duty of Public Works Department to repair the footpath,” Pareeth said.