The Public Works Department (PWD) of Delhi has received a comprehensive proposal for the construction of 21 new foot over bridges (FOBs) across the city.
These proposals, put forth by the Traffic Police, underwent a thorough review last month by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, following which ground surveys have commenced to facilitate detailed project reports. This initiative signals a renewed focus on creating more accessible and safer pedestrian infrastructure within the capital. The proposed locations for these essential pedestrian crossings span various high-traffic areas across Delhi, addressing critical needs identified by the Traffic Police. Some of the key locations earmarked for the construction of new FOBs include the vicinity of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Marg near the exit gate of Old Delhi Railway station, the bustling Shaheed Captain Batra Chowk, the area in front of the LNJP hospital in Central Delhi catering to a high volume of pedestrian movement, the busy Ajmeri Gate Chowk, and the Munja Chowk along Boulevard Road. Additionally, a few other locations, including one on South Delhi’s Lala Lajpat Rai Marg, have also been identified as requiring dedicated pedestrian infrastructure.
According to official government documentation, while the majority of the 21 proposed locations fall under the jurisdiction of the PWD, some stretches are under the purview of other agencies, notably the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). An official statement from the PWD indicated that for these specific locations, the department will proactively inform the concerned agency to ensure seamless coordination and facilitate informed decisions regarding the subsequent course of action for pedestrian infrastructure development. This renewed emphasis on pedestrian infrastructure comes against a backdrop of repeated criticism directed at the PWD by the courts regarding the dilapidated and poorly maintained condition of existing FOBs across the city. Numerous existing pedestrian bridges lack essential facilities such as functional lifts, with escalators frequently out of service, and often suffer from overall uncleanliness, rendering them largely unusable, particularly for the elderly, those with disabilities, and even healthy individuals.
A comprehensive study conducted by the Planning department in 2018 painted a concerning picture of the state of Delhi’s FOBs at the time, revealing that a staggering 77 percent lacked lifts, only a meagre 23 percent were equipped with escalators, and approximately 70 percent did not have any security personnel deployed for the safety and upkeep of these public facilities. The situation reached a critical point in 2023 when the Delhi High Court vehemently criticised the FOBs for being in such a ‘pathetic condition’ that they were practically unusable even for able-bodied individuals, underscoring the urgent need for significant improvements. Following the High Court’s strong reprimand, the PWD assured the court of its commitment to undertaking comprehensive repairs and implementing necessary upgrades to the existing pedestrian infrastructure. Subsequently, the PWD announced the formation of a dedicated committee tasked with overseeing the maintenance and upkeep of these crucial public facilities. This committee formulated a comprehensive plan for the sustained maintenance of FOBs, encompassing regular cleaning schedules and measures to protect them from theft and acts of vandalism, aiming to ensure their long-term functionality and usability for the public. The proposal for 21 new FOBs, coupled with the renewed focus on maintaining existing infrastructure, signifies a concerted effort by the Delhi PWD to create a more pedestrian-friendly and accessible urban environment, aligning with the principles of equitable and sustainable urban mobility.
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