From footpaths to skywalks, budgets of central and east city corporations in Bengaluru put pedestrian safety at the centre

Pedestrian safety and facilities have found welcome focus in the maiden budgets presented by the central and east city corporations on Friday. While the east corporation has set a target of developing 100 km of footpaths this year, the central corporation has set a target of 50 km. Apart from these, budgets focus on building skywalks and junction improvements, with a key focus on pedestrian safety.

The central corporation has announced a ‘Hejje Hejjege Surakshe’ initiative, under which 50 km of existing footpaths will be improved, and 15 km of new, modern footpaths will be constructed, with features such as rainwater absorption and accessibility for the elderly and persons with disabilities. Alongside this, 12 major junctions will be upgraded under the ‘Suraksha’ scheme, with a combined allocation of ₹50 crore that covers the installation of High-Rise Pedestrian Crossings (HRPCs). The corporation currently has 24 operational pedestrian skywalks and has initiated tenders for nine additional skywalks based on traffic police inputs.