At Jangpura, construction material dumped on the footpath forces pedestrians onto the busy road, illustrating how public spaces meant for walking are frequently blocked

Sofas, household items, accumulated waste and illegally parked vehicles occupy another stretch of footpath in Jangpura, leaving little room for people to pass safely

Clothes hung out to dry and other temporary structures further reduce already limited walking space

Vehicles parked directly on pavements have become a common sight in many parts of Delhi. Experts say such encroachments make walking unsafe, especially for children, senior citizens and people with disabilities

In Shaheen Bagh and Laxmi Nagar, footpaths are occupied by parked vehicles, roadside vendors and commercial encroachments, pushing pedestrians into fast-moving traffic

Motorcycles, goods vehicles and illegal parking block pedestrian paths even along major roads like Zakir Hussain Marg. Similar scenes are visible across several parts of the capital

Researchers from IIT Delhi found that nearly 44 per cent of the city's roads lack footpaths altogether. Poor lighting, unsafe crossings and encroachments further increase the risks faced by pedestrians

Official figures show hundreds of pedestrians lose their lives in road accidents every year in Delhi. Experts say reclaiming footpaths and improving pedestrian infrastructure is essential to reducing these deaths

The Supreme Court's ruling has strengthened the constitutional right to walk, but meaningful change will depend on removing encroachments, enforcing parking rules and redesigning streets to put pedestrians first.