Coimbatore Corporation’s proposal to create pedestrian facilities remains on paper

The Coimbatore Corporation’s proposal to create pedestrian facilities across the city has not progressed beyond the planning stage, even as the lack of footpaths and safe crossing points continues to pose challenges on major roads.

The scale of the issue is reflected in road safety data. Information obtained from the police under the Right to Information (RTI) Act shows that pedestrians accounted for 37% of road traffic accident fatalities reported in the first 10 months of 2025 in Coimbatore.

Over the past year, the civic body announced a series of measures aimed at improving pedestrian movement. These included proposals to construct three foot overbridges (FOBs), a street improvement plan to facilitate safer movement for school and college students, and a budget announcement to implement non-motorised transport systems at select locations in the city.

The three FOBs were proposed at the Gandhipuram town bus stand, Ukkadam bus stand, and Lakshmi Junction on Avinashi Road. Each structure was planned under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode at an estimated cost of ₹8 crore.

As part of the Safe Streets for School and College Students initiative, the Corporation proposed student-oriented infrastructure along routes with a high concentration of educational institutions. Trichy Road and Kamarajar Road in Ramanathapuram were identified for the pilot phase. The project, covering a stretch of 2.5 km and estimated to cost ₹2.5 crore, aims to improve walking and cycling facilities and regulate traffic. The area was selected due to the presence of nine educational institutions and the availability of roadside space for redesign.

However, none of these initiatives have been taken up for execution, so far.

District Road Safety Committee member K. Kathirmathiyon said there was no stretch in the city with continuous pedestrian infrastructure. He said crossings on major roads continued to be difficult for those on foot. Opposing the PPP model for FOBs, he said allowing advertisements on such structures went against road safety norms and that notices had been issued to the authorities on the matter. He added that such projects should be fully funded by the government.

Responding to the concerns, Corporation Commissioner M. Sivaguru Prabakaran said proposals for the FOBs had been submitted to the Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) and were awaiting approval. He said private players had expressed interest and the projects would be taken up once approvals were received, adding that the PPP model reduced the financial burden on the government.

On the Safe Streets initiative, he said the project was being implemented as a pilot and that the detailed project report was nearing completion. He also said the Corporation was planning to develop continuous footpaths covering about 31 km across the city and that a consultant would be appointed to study the proposal.