It is wishful thinking on the part of pedestrians who would like to walk on the footpaths without being disrupted by gaping holes and encroachments of umpteen variety.
While for the pedestrians in the city this continues to remain a distant dream, shifting our focus to Victoria road in Victoria layout, Austin Town; the situation for the pedestrian is no different.
First of all, Victoria Road being one of the important connector roads in the city which connects Richmond circle to the Old Airport Road sees heavy traffic on a regular basis. It is actually a tight rope walk as the footpaths on either side of the road is hardly 2 to 3 feet wide.
Moreover, the footpath beyond the Old Agaram Road junction towards the Lifestyle side, had some concrete piled up, which can disastrous for a night time walker. As one walks further towards Hot Tracks, the automobile spare parts shop, it may be observed that the footpath has withered into non-existence either pushing the pedestrian onto the road or into the shop itself.
Likwise, just opposite Kendra Vidhyala Girls Hostel, is a construction site. It was not too surprising as the huge pile of sand had laid siege to the footpath pushing pedestrians back to the road again. Right next to it is the Victoria Comfort flats where residents have comfortably converted the foot path into parking lots for their four wheelers.
The footpath had again receded into nothing in front of the State Bank of India. In front of the Mariadoss Auto garage, is again a classic case, where the footpath has been reclaimed as work area by the garage.
As we get closer to Lifestyle on the opposite side is the ADA apartment which opens straight into the road, with no semblance of a foot path.
Haridass, a pedestrian, who was walking on this road said, "With vehicles constantly zooming past in high speed, it is a terrifying experience to walk on this road."
Well, the search to talk to the K Shivakumar, Shanthala Nagar ward Councillor, ended in futile as his number was not reachable.