30 June,2026 08:40 AM IST | Mumbai | Aditi Alurkar
The obstacle-ridden footpath outside the Muncherjee Nowrojee Banajee institute
While being a pedestrian in Mumbai is fraught with challenges for the able-bodied, things are much harder for those with physical impairments. The footpath leading to Muncherjee Nowrojee Banajee Industrial Home for the Blind in Jogeshwari West showcases the callousness with which the vulnerable are left to fend for themselves in the city.
Most blind residents and visitors find it tough to make their way to the centre, though it is only a five-minute walk from the Jogeshwari railway station, as vehicles block access to the footpath, which terminates a good distance before the hostel gate. Private buses, believed to be illegally parked nearby, have been a point of concern for most, mid-day has learned.
"At some point, residents have to get down from the pavement because it does not continue seamlessly till the gate. These days, students have been bumping into a parked bus, injuring themselves, because their walking sticks often miss such tall vehicles," said Mayank Shekhar, director of MNB.
Roshan Jamodkar, 29, acupressure masseuse
âThe bus stops on the footpath are our biggest concern. I rely on the graciousness of others to overcome these hurdles. We have to ask beforehand where the bus stops are to avoid any injuries. When pavements are poorly built, either our walking stick or foot gets stuck'
Naman Parakh, student who resides in Mumbai Central
âMy stick once got stuck in a cycle, causing it to fall on me. I have had two-wheeler riders honk at me while I was trying to use the footpath'
The footpath leading to Muncherjee Nowrojee Banajee Industrial Home for the Blind in Jogeshwari West. Pics/By Special Arrangement
Both the sighted and blind were appreciative of tactile footpaths across the city. Shubham Ghevade, a 23-year-old PhD aspirant and teacher with nearly 90 per cent blindness, said, "I have been noticing these footpaths around Kandivli, Ghatkopar, and areas around Metro stations." Obstructively parked JCB machines and buses, and run-down pavements have been a problem for Ghevade, who travels from Kalyan to Jogeshwari daily. "New footpaths can only do so much good if there is no consistency in implementation," he said.
According to Ghevade, in his area, sturdy footpaths are being built, but one often encounters old, ramshackle ones. "Uneven distances and abrupt endings with no slopes throw me off, yet I manage. A set standard or benchmark for building footpaths around the city can bring relief for many like me," he said.
A lack of ramps and the presence of bollards make it impossible for those with physical disabilities to either get onto or get off a footpath. Ramesh Sartape, founder of the Divyang Wheelchair Cricket Association, said, "Strangely, this is evident outside Metro stations, as the Metro in itself is an accessible mode of transport owing to lifts and ramps. Typically, wheelchairs are 15 to 16 inches wide, but narrowly spaced bollards keep us off the pavements."
