India’s financial capital is moving towards a comprehensive overhaul of its walking infrastructure, with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) initiating work on what is expected to become the country’s first Master Pedestrian Network Plan covering an entire city. The initiative, currently placed before the Supreme Court through an official affidavit, aims to replace disconnected footpaths with an integrated, accessible and digitally mapped pedestrian system that supports safer, more inclusive urban mobility. The proposed Master Pedestrian Network Plan marks a shift from project-based footpath construction to long-term mobility planning rooted in geospatial intelligence. Civic authorities are assembling a detailed digital inventory of pedestrian infrastructure by combining Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping, three-dimensional city modelling, satellite imagery, LiDAR surveys, drone mapping and development planning data. Together, these technologies are expected to create a comprehensive picture of existing walkways, missing links and accessibility barriers across Mumbai.
Municipal teams have already begun ward-level assessments to document the condition of footpaths, identify discontinuous stretches and map areas where pedestrian infrastructure is either absent or inaccessible. Urban planners say such data-driven planning could help prioritise investments more effectively by focusing on neighbourhoods where gaps in walkability affect daily commuting, public transport access and road safety. The digital platform under development is expected to allow civic departments to visualise roads, public utilities, transport corridors and pedestrian infrastructure within a unified framework. This integrated approach is likely to improve coordination between agencies responsible for roads, utilities and transport projects, reducing the recurring problem of newly constructed footpaths being damaged by subsequent infrastructure works. The proposal also seeks to strengthen links between pedestrian infrastructure and Mumbai’s expanding public transport network. Experts in sustainable mobility note that comfortable and uninterrupted walking routes are essential for increasing the use of metro rail, suburban rail and bus services, while reducing dependence on private vehicles.
Better pedestrian connectivity can also improve access for children, senior citizens and persons with disabilities, reinforcing broader goals of equitable urban development. The civic administration has informed the Court that a dedicated institutional mechanism under its roads and traffic engineering department will oversee data collection, planning, implementation and monitoring of pedestrian projects. Establishing a single coordinating authority could help standardise design practices and improve accountability across multiple municipal departments involved in street infrastructure. Authorities have also clarified that management of street vending will continue under the existing legal framework governing hawker regulation and rehabilitation. Future planning is expected to balance livelihood protection with the need to maintain unobstructed pedestrian movement, recognising that both informal commerce and accessible public spaces form important components of Mumbai’s urban ecosystem.
As legal proceedings continue, the success of the Master Pedestrian Network Plan will ultimately depend on consistent execution, transparent monitoring and sustained investment. If implemented effectively, the initiative could provide a replicable model for other Indian cities seeking to build safer, climate-resilient and people-centred streets while supporting sustainable urban growth.
