Junction boxes and garbage bins will be allotted proper space

The Highways Department is formulating guidelines for creating model footpaths on arterials roads in the city under its control, including Jawaharlal Nehru Salai, popularly known as 100 Feet Road and Anna Salai.

The focus of the exercise is to ensure that utilities such as junction boxes, garbage bins and streetlights are allotted proper space to make the pavements safe and comfortable for pedestrians.

“Due to various obstructions, on most of our pavements people in the city, unlike in other countries, are unable to walk freely. But with these rules in place, everything will have a place and pedestrians will be able to walk without any breaks,” a Highways department official said.

Raj Cherubal of Chennai City Connect, said using the existing carriageway and available space, it would be possible to create comfortable pedestrian and vehicular space.

“The CMDA's Second Master Plan says that 40 per cent of road space on major arterial roads is not being used because of pedestrians walking on the carriageway and spill-over parking. So, if footpaths and roads are planned, we could get more space. Cities such as Hong Kong and Shanghai have taken roads that were in conditions similar to ours and rebuilt them according to standards.”

In Chennai, as many platforms are not laid properly, most often pedestrians use the road. According to Indian Roads Congress Standards, a 1.5 metre wide footpath could carry 1,500 pedestrians/hour walking in the same direction, and 800 pedestrians/hour in both directions.

T.Anantharajan, former professor of Urban Engineering, Anna University, said footpaths were very important for the free flow of traffic. “We must remember that vehicle users too are pedestrians once their car is parked. In most places, there are no sidewalks and in places where there are sidewalks, we place garbage bins there.”

In urban areas, footpaths must be at least one metre wide. If trees are planted, the footpaths must be two metres wide and if hawkers are to be accommodated, the facilities must be 3 metres wide.

Mr. Anantharajan said that with different transportation systems such as BRTS, Metro Rail and Monorail coming up, detailed area-wide planning for parking, pedestrians, cyclists and motorists is a must. Various agencies including the CMDA, Highways, Chennai Corporation, Metrorail and Police must sit together and plan, he suggested.