Chennai Streets Need Better Walking Infrastructure
Chennai has emerged as the fourth-best performing major Indian city for continuous pedestrian infrastructure, with only a limited share of its roads offering uninterrupted walking paths. The findings highlight both the city’s progress in street design and the larger challenge of creating safer, inclusive mobility networks as urban growth accelerates.
A recent assessment of Indian streets found that just 13.9% of Chennai’s roads provide footpaths where pedestrians can walk continuously for at least 100 metres without encountering barriers. The analysis evaluated cities using artificial intelligence-based mapping, street imagery and urban data to measure actual walking conditions rather than simply tracking the presence of pavements. Among major cities studied, Lucknow recorded the highest share of usable footpaths at 28%, followed by Bengaluru at 25.9% and Hyderabad at 15.1%. Chennai ranked ahead of several large urban centres, including Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad, but remained far behind the level required for a pedestrian-friendly city.
The findings underline a persistent issue in Indian urban planning: roads are often designed primarily around vehicle movement, while pedestrian access receives limited attention. For residents, especially senior citizens, children, women and people with disabilities, broken or obstructed footpaths can directly affect safety, accessibility and everyday mobility.Urban planners note that Chennai’s expanding residential zones, commercial corridors and transport infrastructure projects will require stronger pedestrian networks to support sustainable growth. A city’s ability to encourage walking can reduce dependence on private vehicles, improve public transport access and contribute to lower emissions.The study also points to common street-level challenges affecting footpath usability across Indian cities. Encroachments, parked vehicles, roadside structures, utility installations and waste disposal points frequently reduce pedestrian space. In several locations, infrastructure upgrades have focused on widening roads without adequately protecting walking corridors. For Chennai, improving walkability could also influence the quality of neighbourhoods and local economies. Well-connected footpaths support access to shops, public transport stations, workplaces and community spaces, making urban areas more economically active and socially inclusive.
Experts believe future infrastructure planning must treat pedestrian movement as a core component of city development rather than a secondary requirement. The creation of continuous footpaths, better street management and coordinated utility planning will be essential as Chennai prepares for increasing population density and climate-related urban challenges. The ranking provides a measurable view of Chennai’s current position, but it also highlights the need for sustained investment in people-first streets. Building safer walking networks will remain critical to creating a more resilient and accessible urban environment.
