BENGALURU: Senior citizens in Bengaluru deplore the poor condition of footpaths, which they say pose serious risks to their safety and independence. “First of all, is there any footpath in Bengaluru?” questions Dr Vittal Kamath, a senior citizen.
He is not wrong -- across the city, footpaths are either broken, uneven, or completely absent. In many areas, footpaths are encroached by street vendors, garbage or utilities, forcing pedestrians, especially the elderly, on to busy roads.
“Even if a footpath exists, it is encroached by shops selling food, tea, fruits and garments. At times, we see piles of garbage left unattended. To put it in a nutshell, it is pathetic,” says Dr Kamath. Residents say these conditions are not just inconvenient but dangerous. A 70-year-old citizen noted that lack of proper railings, slopes and even surfaces makes walking risky. “At this age, if I fall, it can be serious. Yet nothing in the city is designed keeping senior citizens in mind,” he said.
A resident of Osborne Road echoed similar concerns. “Footpaths are either broken, slippery or don’t exist. You are forced to walk on the road, and that is unsafe,” she said.
Alexander James, a 62-year-old retired lecturer, said he was recently injured after being pushed on to the road due to unusable footpaths. “If we walk on footpaths, we may fall. If we step on to the road, we risk getting hit by vehicles,” he said.
Doctors say these concerns are increasingly reflected in hospital cases. Dr Ramesh, orthopaedic specialist at Victoria Hospital, said fall-related injuries among the elderly are rising. “We regularly see elderly patients with fractures due to falls, often linked to poorly maintained footpaths,” he said. “For an elderly person, even a minor fall can lead to serious fractures and long-term loss of mobility.”
Such cases are now common, say doctors. “People step out for routine activities like walking or shopping and return with fractures. What should be a simple activity has become a medical risk,” shared Dr BH Banarji, senior consultant, orthopaedics, at Sakra World Hospital. “In many cases, injuries are severe enough to require surgery, including joint replacements.” he added.
He said the root cause often lies in poor pedestrian infrastructure. “Footpaths today are not designed for walking, they are uneven, encroached, or unsafe. This is a major reason behind frequent fall injuries,” he said. Dr Kamath also pointed to weak enforcement of rules. “Vehicles are often driven on footpaths, and authorities remain mute spectators. Unless strict penalties, including licence suspension, are imposed, the situation will not improve,” he said.
With Bengaluru’s ageing population growing, experts stress that pedestrian infrastructure must be prioritised. Senior citizens say the lack of safe footpaths is not just an urban design flaw, but a daily threat to their mobility and dignity.
“A simple walk should not feel like a risk,” said James. “But in Bengaluru today, it does.”