How many of us would climb a hot iron foot over bridge, in the scorching heat, with about 50 stairs in total, when the other alternative available is simply crossing the road by walking a few steps? Why would the pedestrians not give the bridge a miss and instead sprint across the road and climb a high grill on the road divider, luggage in hand, to cross the road with ease?
In the few seconds in which a pedestrian has to cross a busy road in the Capital, there are many things that can go wrong: vehicles may ignore the red lights, pelican lights meant for pedestrians might fail, the pressure from the blaring horns may increase, and a typical Delhi problem — the lack of space on the road dividers, which are also too steep for the senior citizens. As a solution to this glaring problem, the Delhi government came up with the solution of the foot over bridges, which came to no rescue and proved to be more of a hassle than a resolution.
There are hundreds of foot-over bridges in Delhi at present with 70 more in the queue to be completed. All these are being made in the name of facilitating the society, who faces a dire need of something better than the zebra lines to cross the roads. But are the commoners really benefiting from these bridges with about 50-60 stairs each, adding a good 50 metres to one’s journey? This is what the question remains.
Why in the first place are these foot over bridges made? When something is done for the benefit of the common man, it is necessary for the authorities to put themselves into the shoes of the common man. Just because the decision makers and our leaders are one of the pedestrians, this should not mean solutions which are only in the name and with no real benefit for those they are meant for. It is high time that the user’s perspective is not overlooked.
Foot over bridges are the latest blunder that the Government of Delhi and municipal corporation of Delhi are committing. They are only adding to the ugliness of the look of the city and are not likely to be utilized by even a fraction of the people they are meant for. They do not address the actual need of the common man and unabashedly ignore what he looks for as a solution.
The need of the hour is to enable people to cross the roads without having to come in the way of moving vehicles, in a manner which is least strenuous. In fact, underpasses, though a little better pose a problem with cleanliness, hygiene and safety of the citizens.
PRAHAR has a proposal to put forth which the Municipal Corporation can consider:
Instead of building foot over bridges, the roads should be elevated, only by 8 feet to enable a person to walk straight under the same. Let us explain why this is a better solution.
How much effort does a car or a bike put in moving on an elevated platform? And how much energy does an individual put in when he is climbing some 50-60 stairs? If only we can raise the roads a bit, such that the people can easily pass under it and the cars can go over and above them, the scene can be more comfortable and simpler. A sort of a subway, but which is at the same level with the main road so that the people do not find it as an addition to their already existing bag of troubles, and which they can use without putting in extra effort. Moreover, the vehicles can easily move on an elevated platform without any hustle or bustle.
The main benefits of such an endeavour would be:
- The cost of elevating the road by 8-10 feet with a 8ft X 6 ft tunnel underneath would be similar to constructing a foot-over-bridge
- People’s predicament in crossing the busy roads will get a happy ending.
- Pedestrian and vehicle movement would become seamless
- With elevated roads, pedestrians would be safe at the points of crossing – in case of foot over bridges vehicles tend to pile up on the side at the entrance of this bridge when people are getting off on getting on to a public transport, which can be avoided.
- The pressure of climbing would be transferred from the shoulders of the common people to the vehicles.
- Safety of the general public would be restored, and the number of road accidents would be checked.
- People will not be left with any excuses for not using these crossing lanes.
- And we will be able to make the lives of the pedestrians more comfortable.