Published Jul 11, 2026 | 6:40 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 11, 2026 | 6:40 PM
Chennai, 6 July: It's free for all at the Tirumangalam Metro Station. With vehicles taking over the footpath, pedestrians have nowhere to go!
Synopsis: Pedestrians, perhaps the largest unorganised section of citizens, are deprived of footpaths — pavements to walk safely and with dignity. The Supreme Court has now asserted that the right to walk on safe, demarcated footpaths is a fundamental right under the rights to free movement and life. But are the footpaths in your city available for pedestrians?
No prizes for guessing what was going on in the mind of that autorickshaw driver in the photograph clicked by Sunish P Surendran.
“Have wheels, will ride and park; anna, don’t preach,” seems to be the common refrain here.
It is free for all in front of the Tirumangalam Metro Station, Chennai, where motorists have encroached on footpaths, and vehicles are taking all unpredictable directions. This creates congestion near the station entrance.
Incidentally, vehicles are parked on footpaths despite the place having designated parking spaces.
Chennai, 6 July: It’s free for all at the Tirumangalam Metro Station. With vehicles taking over the footpath, pedestrians have nowhere to go!
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Join South First’s Reclaim Footpaths campaign. If you see a footpath that is encroached on or damaged, share a photo and details (location, date) with us at +91 8341082462. We will flag it to the authorities responsible for fixing it.
