Pedestrian-Friendly Cities: Right to Walk, Challenges & Way Forward

21 Jul 2026

Subject: GS 2: Important Aspects of Governance

Context: Indian cities have largely been designed around motor vehicles rather than people. As a result, pedestrians, cyclists, children, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities face unsafe and inaccessible streets.

A recent Supreme Court judgment (2026) reaffirmed that the right to walk safely on designated footpaths is a Fundamental Right, highlighting the need for people-centric urban planning.

Background

Rapid urbanisation and rising vehicle ownership have resulted in increasing congestion and reduced pedestrian space.
Many footpaths are either absent, encroached upon, or poorly maintained.
Public spaces are increasingly prioritised for vehicles instead of pedestrians.
This trend negatively affects road safety, public health, and quality of life.

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Supreme Court Judgment (2026)

Maniyar Ilyas & Others v. P. A. In (2026)

Key Observations

The Supreme Court held that:

The right to walk safely on demarcated footpaths is a Fundamental Right.
States and Union Territories must formulate policies to ensure safe pedestrian infrastructure.
Cities should be designed primarily for people, not merely for vehicles.

Constitutional Basis

Article 19(1)(d)

Guarantees the Right to Move Freely throughout the territory of India.

Article 21

Guarantees the Right to Life and Personal Liberty.
The Court reiterated that the right to life includes the right to live with dignity, which requires safe and accessible public spaces.

Walking as a Public Health Measure

Walking is not merely a mode of transport; it is also an important public health intervention.

WHO Physical Activity Profile (2024)

Around 49.4% of Indian adults do not meet the recommended level of physical activity.
Approximately 57.2% of women fail to achieve recommended activity levels.
Nearly 74% of children and adolescents are insufficiently physically active.

WHO Recommendation

Every adult should perform at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week.

Walking to schools, workplaces, bus stops, and metro stations can significantly contribute towards achieving this target.

Health Benefits of Walking

Regular walking helps in:

Reducing the risk of diabetes.
Controlling hypertension.
Preventing obesity.
Reducing the incidence of fatty liver disease.
Improving cardiovascular health.
Enhancing mental well-being.
Improving joint mobility and insulin sensitivity.

Road Safety Concerns

Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (Road Accidents in India, 2024)

Pedestrians and two-wheeler users account for nearly 67% of total road accident deaths.

National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)

Approximately 60% of road accident fatalities involve pedestrians and two-wheeler riders.

Why Are Pedestrians More Vulnerable?

Lack of dedicated walking infrastructure forces pedestrians onto roads.
Collisions between fast-moving vehicles and pedestrians often result in severe injuries or fatalities.
Poor lighting, unsafe crossings, and speeding further aggravate the risk.

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Balancing the Rights of Street Vendors and Pedestrians

Street Vendors Act, 2014: Ensure legal recognition, livelihood protection, and designated vending zones while safeguarding pedestrian movement.
Balanced Urban Planning: Provide unobstructed footpaths for pedestrians, designated vending zones for vendors, planned parking for vehicles, and utility corridors for essential services.
Inclusive Urban Spaces: Balance livelihood rights with the Right to Walk through equitable and people-centric city planning.

Measures for Citizens

Adopt Walking as a Habit: Walk regularly, especially after meals, and aim for 30 minutes daily.
Choose Active Mobility: Prefer walking for short trips (<1 km) and combine walking with public transport.
Promote Community Participation: Join community walking groups to encourage healthier lifestyles.
Prioritise Health & Safety: Seek medical advice if walking causes persistent discomfort or breathing difficulties.

Measures for Government

Improve Urban Infrastructure: Develop safe footpaths, cycling tracks, and adopt universal accessibility standards in all urban projects.
Strengthen Traffic Enforcement: Impose strict penalties for illegal parking and effectively remove footpath encroachments.
Develop Priority Pedestrian Zones: Prioritise schools, hospitals, markets, metro stations, and public transport hubs for pedestrian-friendly infrastructure.
Promote Active Mobility: Launch a National Active Mobility Mission integrating urban planning, transport, public health, and climate action.
Adopt Walkability-Based Performance Indicators: Evaluate cities using walkable streets, pedestrian infrastructure quality, accessibility, road safety, and Walkability Index, rather than only flyovers and road expansion.

Significance for India

Developing pedestrian-friendly cities will:

Improve public health outcomes.
Reduce road accident fatalities.
Promote inclusive urban development.
Support climate change mitigation by reducing dependence on private vehicles.
Improve the ease of living in urban areas.
Contribute towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Challenges

Rapid Motorisation: Rising private vehicle ownership has increased congestion, while vehicle-centric planning has reduced space for pedestrians and cyclists.
Weak Enforcement Against Encroachments: Illegal parking and footpath encroachments force pedestrians onto roads, increasing accident risks.
Poor Pedestrian Infrastructure: Lack of continuous, accessible, and well-maintained footpaths limits safe mobility, especially for the elderly and persons with disabilities.
Limited Institutional Coordination: Poor coordination among urban planning authorities, municipal bodies, and transport agencies leads to fragmented implementation.
Inadequate Financial Resources: Limited funding for pedestrian infrastructure and a bias towards roads and flyovers hinder walkability improvements.
Low Public Awareness: Limited awareness of walkability, road safety, and pedestrian rights discourages safe and active mobility.

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Way Forward

People-Centric Urban Planning: Design cities that prioritise people over vehicles, making pedestrian safety and accessibility the core of urban development.
Promote Walking & Cycling: Integrate safe, continuous footpaths and dedicated cycling tracks into all city master plans.
Effective Implementation of the Street Vendors Act, 2014: Develop designated vending zones while ensuring unobstructed pedestrian movement.
Improve Public Transport & Last-Mile Connectivity: Expand public transport with safe walking infrastructure connecting metro stations, bus stops, markets, schools, and residential areas.
Conduct Walkability Audits: Regularly assess footpaths, crossings, lighting, accessibility, and pedestrian safety for all major urban projects.
Pedestrian-First Urban Spaces: Shift from vehicle-centric planning to safe, inclusive, and sustainable mobility by recognising pedestrians as the primary users of public spaces.