Experts urge Delhi to improve footpaths before urging commuters to abandon cars
Delhi’s push for public transport stalls as unsafe footpaths hinder last‑mile connectivity, prompting experts to call for urgent pedestrian infrastructure upgrades.
Delhi’s footpaths are often blocked or missing, forcing commuters onto busy roads. Experts say safe walkways are essential before asking residents to give up cars.
Delhi, public transport, footpaths, pedestrian safety, last‑mile connectivity, urban planning, traffic, road safety, metro, buses
New Delhi – As fuel prices climb and Prime Minister Narendra Modi urges citizens to cut oil dependence by using public transport, Delhi’s commuters are questioning the practicality of the message. The real challenge appears after stepping off a metro train or bus: a chaotic “last‑mile” stretch riddled with missing sidewalks, parked two‑wheelers, broken pavements and open drains.
A recent social‑media post struck a chord with many Delhi residents. The user, describing himself as an upper‑middle‑class citizen, wrote: “I am happy to give up the car altogether. I can’t drive and I don’t have anyone to chauffeur me around. I like to walk, and walking seven or eight km a day is okay. Public transport or Uber for the rest. This is what I do whenever I am outside India. With zero hassles. Give me footpaths, which are usable, and safe streets. Why are austerity‑peddlers not talking about this? Is it because they have not walked in recent times and have no clue what it is to be a woman in a north Indian city and walk?”
Other commenters echoed similar frustrations, noting that “footpaths have vanished and nobody seems bothered unless they are forced to walk on the road themselves.” The thread highlighted a broader concern: Delhi’s middle class remains heavily reliant on cars, making walkability a low priority in public discourse.
Transport expert Geetam Tiwari affirmed these concerns as “valid.” She emphasized that pedestrian infrastructure is the most critical yet overlooked component of Delhi’s public‑transport strategy. “If we want people to shift from private vehicles to public transport, accessibility becomes the key issue. Studies show that for nearly 80 % of public‑transport users, the access mode is walking. That means pedestrian infrastructure is the basic prerequisite for public transport to work effectively, yet it remains one of the most underrated aspects of urban planning. Foot overbridges alone are not enough. We need to seriously focus on footpaths and walkability,” Tiwari said.
Statistics underline the severity of the problem. In 2025, 649 pedestrians lost their lives in the capital. A 2024 Supreme Court‑ordered road‑safety audit found that 44 % of Delhi’s roads lack footpaths altogether. Where footpaths do exist, they are frequently encroached upon, blocked by parked vehicles or overtaken by commercial spill‑overs, leaving commuters with little space to walk safely.
A typical example is the stretch from Nehru Place Chowk to Lady Shri Ram College for Women along Lala Lajpat Rai Marg. Here, pedestrians navigate a narrow corridor squeezed between parked motorcycles and fast‑moving traffic. Near market areas, broken pavements force walkers to step onto the carriageway, instinctively raising an arm to signal oncoming vehicles in hopes of being noticed.
Experts argue that without reliable and safe pedestrian routes, any push to shift commuters from private cars to buses or the metro will fall short. They call on municipal authorities to enforce footpath clearance, repair damaged walkways, and prevent illegal parking and encroachments.
Until these measures are implemented, the “last‑mile” dilemma will continue to deter many Delhiites from abandoning their cars, despite broader calls for reduced oil consumption and greener mobility.
