Bengaluru's Two-Pronged Attack: Design and Discipline
Bengaluru’s evolving strategy for pedestrian safety isn’t just about adding more concrete; it’s a combination of smarter design and relentless enforcement. The groundwork was laid years ago with the TenderSURE (Specifications for Urban Roads Execution)
project. These roads flipped the traditional hierarchy, prioritising pedestrians first, followed by cyclists and public transport, with private vehicles last. The design includes wide, continuous footpaths, organised underground utilities to prevent constant digging, and safer intersections. The result on these stretches was a reported 300% rise in pedestrian usage. More recently, the city has launched a massive, coordinated “Safe Footpath Campaign.” In July 2026, authorities began a drive to clear encroachments across thousands of kilometers of arterial roads, removing everything from illegally parked vehicles and shop extensions to unauthorised kiosks. This isn't just a one-off event. The campaign involves towing vehicles, imposing fines, and repairing damaged slabs with a dedicated budget of around ₹70 crore. The message is clear: footpaths are for people, and the rules will be enforced.
The Challenge of Consistency
While impressive, Bengaluru’s journey is far from complete. The success of TenderSURE roads is largely concentrated in the central business district, and replicating this expensive model across the entire city is a significant challenge. Furthermore, despite high-profile enforcement drives, the menace of two-wheelers using footpaths as shortcuts persists, with over 12,000 cases booked in the first five months of 2026 alone. A recent study found that nearly half of the city's footpaths remain obstructed. The initiatives show a clear policy direction, but achieving consistent, city-wide walkability requires overcoming deep-rooted habits and ensuring enforcement doesn't fade after the initial blitz.
Delhi’s Story: Patchwork Progress and Pervasive Problems
In Delhi, the scale of the problem is immense. The city ranks highest in fatal accidents among metros, with pedestrians being the most vulnerable victims. A major issue is the sheer lack of infrastructure; a DDA report noted that almost 40% of the city's road length has no footpath at all. Where they do exist, footpaths are often unusable, serving as de facto parking lots, a problem so common that Delhi Traffic Police issued over 4.3 lakh challans for improper parking in just three months. Efforts are being made, such as a programme to redesign 100 high-risk intersections for pedestrian safety. The city's extensive Metro network is a world-class asset, but its effectiveness is hampered by poor last-mile connectivity. Once a commuter exits a station, they often step into a chaotic environment with no safe way to walk, negating many of the benefits. Unlike Bengaluru's integrated design-and-enforce approach, Delhi's efforts often feel piecemeal—a new foot-overbridge here, a redesigned crossing there—without tackling the systemic issue of encroachment and weak, inconsistent enforcement.
Mumbai’s Muddle: A Fight for Every Inch
If Delhi struggles with infrastructure gaps, Mumbai grapples with extreme density and a constant conflict for space. Over 50% of all journeys in the city are made on foot, yet pedestrians are forced onto dangerous roads because footpaths are uneven, broken, and perpetually encroached upon. The problem is a systemic governance challenge, where a lack of coordination between municipal authorities and enforcement agencies renders many traffic norms ineffective. The city's footpaths are a chaotic mix of different materials, varying widths, and sudden level changes, making a simple walk a hazardous exercise. Like Bengaluru, Mumbai has recently launched its own 'Pedestrian First' campaign, aiming to clear encroachments from 320 km of footpaths in its first phase. The initiative promises daily inspections and strict action against negligence. The key question, as many Mumbaikars ask, is whether this drive will have lasting impact or if the encroachments will return once the initial focus fades—a cycle seen in many Indian cities.
The Crucial Takeaways
Bengaluru’s experience offers clear lessons. First, design dictates behaviour. By officially re-prioritising streets for pedestrians through models like TenderSURE, the city made a powerful statement that walking is a legitimate and valued mode of transport. Second, enforcement must be sustained and visible. High-profile, city-wide campaigns to clear footpaths, backed by fines and towing, create a deterrent that sporadic action cannot. Finally, it requires political will and coordination between multiple agencies—from traffic police to municipal corporations. While Bengaluru's model is still a work in progress, its commitment to both creating well-designed pedestrian spaces and aggressively protecting them from misuse is the fundamental shift in thinking that Delhi and Mumbai must embrace to make their streets safe for all.
