VIJAYAWADA: Lack of proper spaces on city roads and traffic awareness have made life rather difficult for pedestrians and physically challenged persons in Vijayawada. Interestingly, 31 per cent of accidents that took place last year involved pedestrians.
According to a survey conducted by Sudeekshan – a city-based NGO working on road safety, around 18 per cent public commute to their destinations on foot, while six per cent public prefer to use bicycles. With increase in vehicular traffic, footpaths are fast disappearing; at many places, it is seen that vehicles run on pavements too.
Though the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) has spent crores of rupees on easing traffic congestion and constructed footpaths on Eluru Road, Mahatma Gandhi Road and other locations for convenience of pedestrians, most of them are encroached by commercial establishments. This is forcing pedestrians to walk on carriageways.
Despite several complaints filed by residents and citizen welfare associations, no action has been taken so far.
“Most traffic interventions by the authorities concerned have been vehicle-centric. They are concerned more about construction of flyovers, underpasses and on measures such as ‘free left’, road dividers and closing of right-turns for easing traffic congestion. Pedestrian safety has not been taken into account,’’ Professor C Ramachandraiah, Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS), said.
With elections around the corner, pedestrian safety must be brought into the political agenda and political parties must be forced to pay attention on road safety issues, he added.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic) K Sravan Kumar said traffic engineering, rule enforcement and education played a vital role in safety of walkers in any city.
“Our responsibilities are constricted to enforcing traffic norms and imposing fines of violators. For management of traffic, all government bodies concerned must work together,” the ACP explained. In 2018, 285 persons have lost their lives in road accidents in Vijayawada police commissionerate limits involving in road accidents, the ACP added.
When asked about the initiatives taken, he said the public questioned the police department over implementation of the mandatory helmet rule, but many continued to disregard it by not wearing the head gear.
“The department has mooted to introduce a traffic controlling system in the city. Efftronics firm has provided designs for the purpose,” he said.
No place to walk