The Maharashtra government has issued a directive mandating all municipal corporations to allocate at least one per cent of their annual budgets for road safety initiatives. The move, driven by a Supreme Court directive, aims to institutionalise funding for pedestrian safety, accident prevention, and public awareness across urban areas.
A Government Resolution (GR) released by the Urban Development Department outlines a comprehensive plan for city-level safety infrastructure, including regular footpath audits, installation of tactile paving, and improved accessibility around public transport hubs. Civic officials said the new guidelines are designed to create safer, more inclusive streets, particularly for vulnerable users such as pedestrians, cyclists, and persons with disabilities. The GR directs all civic bodies to coordinate closely with traffic departments to improve pedestrian access through seamless crossings, waiting areas, and well-lit walkways. It also requires footpath audits every six months by registered agencies, focusing on dense public zones such as markets, transport terminals, and educational institutions. Each audit must include a time-bound repair plan to be submitted to the Urban Development Department.
One of the key measures is the mandatory installation of tactile paths at metro, railway, and bus stations to assist visually challenged individuals. The directive also enforces Indian Roads Congress (IRC) and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) standards for zebra crossings, ensuring uniform safety benchmarks across the state. Municipal bodies are also required to remove encroachments from footpaths, improve lighting, and install CCTV cameras at pedestrian bridges and subways. Each corporation must establish an ‘Accessibility and Pedestrian Cell’ to plan, monitor, and respond to safety-related grievances. Officials said these measures would enhance accountability and encourage citizen participation in civic safety governance.
The resolution further calls for identifying accident-prone zones in coordination with the police and deploying safety personnel where necessary. Every city must survey at least 20 per cent of its roads annually to evaluate the need for new crossings and walking paths. The policy also emphasises the promotion of non-motorised mobility such as cycling and walking through dedicated regulations under the Motor Vehicles Act. The GR concludes with a directive to create an online grievance portal for reporting broken pavements, blocked walkways, or unsafe crossings. Complaints must be addressed within 15 days. Urban policy experts have described the initiative as a vital shift toward sustainable and people-centred urban mobility.
If effectively implemented, the framework could transform Maharashtra’s urban centres into safer, more pedestrian-friendly cities — aligning local governance with national road safety goals and the broader vision of inclusive urban development.
Maharashtra Orders All Cities To Allocate One Percent Budget For Road Safety
