Better planning needed while undertaking infra work

The footpath of Road No. 3 that has been dug up for sewage treatment plant work in Santacruz. PICS/RITIKA GONDHALEKAR

Santacruz residents have lost an all too precious convenient walking stretch. That space is now a dug-up mess of debris, cables, and open drains.

This time, another pavement in the heart of the suburb has been torn apart, allegedly to facilitate civic work. And while officials have promised to rebuild it once the work concludes, residents say they have little faith in these assurances.

It's been several weeks since the footpath on one side of Road No. 3 has been dug up for STP [sewage treatment plant] work. Now they began demolishing a footpath on Road No. 1, which is connected to Road No. 3, meaning both streets have walkways only on one side.

The dismantled footpath runs adjacent to a busy internal road that connects to the Western Express Highway. During rush hour, vehicles zip past the narrow stretch, leaving barely any space for pedestrians. Residents say the absence of a footpath has turned a daily walk into a safety gamble.

It's a complete nightmare for any resident. Morning and evening hours are chaotic. You have cars, two-wheelers, and tempos all trying to pass through a single lane while people are walking on the edge of the road and are in danger of being hit or mowed down.

While work may be necessary, it must envision a safe space for people to walk on before work begins. It is also important that one road is complete before beginning other work.

Officials say footpaths have been temporarily removed. Yet, even in this so-called temporary phase a space could have been earmarked for people or an alternative road with pavement suggested.

Every effort needs to be made for pedestrians. They are negotiating a city where there are extreme risks of every kind - from no footpaths, crazy crossings, under-construction buildings, mounds of debris... the list is long. We have put them on top of the priority list.