On the entire 400-meter stretch between Bhagwan Parshwanath Chowk and Nana Chowk circle, the paver blocks and tiles have either come apart or are strewn around. There are patches of mud and sand lying at intervals. Whatever is left has been claimed by vegetable and fruit vendors. Citizens have consistently contacted Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for better footpaths.
More recently, the High Court reiterated that footpaths are meant for pedestrians, including the elderly and disabled, and asked BMC to ensure walkable ways by removing encroachments by unlicensed hawkers. The court also asked the civic body to file an affidavit identifying specific problems and indicating the solutions it would offer to deal with the issue.
Despite highlighting the need for increasing pedestrian infrastructure, the focus of the civic body seems to have been shifted to ‘illuminating’ Mumbai and replacing dividers under the Mumbai beautification project.
