01 July,2026 09:19 AM IST | Mumbai | Ritika Gondhalekar
Vehicles occupy the stretch where a footpath should be near the Milan Subway in Santacruz West
As per the civic data, nearly 80 per cent of Mumbai's ambitious road concreting project was completed before it was halted for the monsoon season on June 5. Residents, meanwhile, have raised concerns about vanishing and shrinking footpaths.
Citizens allege that while roads have become wider and more durable, pedestrian infrastructure has been compromised, forcing people to walk on busy carriageways and exposing them to greater risk. The issue has also gained significance following the recent Supreme Court ruling that recognised safe and obstruction-free footpaths as part of citizens' fundamental rights.
Several stretches across the city that earlier had usable footpaths now either have significantly reduced walking space or none at all after road widening and concreting. Residents claim the absence of proper pedestrian pathways has made daily commutes particularly difficult for senior citizens, children, and persons with disabilities.
Residents have urged the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to conduct an immediate audit of all concreted roads where footpaths have either disappeared or narrowed significantly. They have demanded that pedestrian pathways be restored in accordance with safety standards, warning that infrastructure development cannot come at the cost of citizens' basic rights and road safety.
Santacruz West, near Milan Mall
"We welcomed the concreting of roads because it promised pothole-free travel, but nobody imagined our footpath would disappear in the process," said Santacruz resident Ajit Ajgaonkar. "Every day I have to walk on the road with speeding vehicles passing inches away. It feels unsafe. Pedestrians seem to have been completely ignored. Roads are meant for everyone, not just motorists. The authorities must restore the footpaths before a serious accident occurs," he said.
Andheri West, Janaki Devi School Road
At Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Nagar, on Janaki Devi School Road, internal streets that underwent concreting in November 2025 were constructed at nearly the same level as the adjoining footpaths, resulting in loss of pedestrian space. The new cement concrete roads have effectively taken over the footpaths. These stretches earlier had functional footpaths, but following the road work, pedestrian infrastructure has disappeared, reflecting what they described as a lack of attention towards walkers' needs.
[popcorn number="June 5" desc=" Day concreting of roads was halted" class="Default"]
