Published Jul 09, 2026 | 5:46 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 09, 2026 | 5:46 PM
Bengaluru, 6 July: A shopkeeper has conveniently stored his cartons on the footpath, while pedestrians take the road near the Banashankari Metro.
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?
Footpaths have many uses, expect a space for pedestrians. When there is a footpath nearby, storage space is not an issue, as this picture Keethivas of South First clicked near the Banashankari Metro Station in Bengaluru.
It seems the oft-heard phrase, Swalpa adjust maadi (please adjust a little) is at play. However, pedestrians run the risk of paying a heavy price for making such a little ‘adjustment’, especially when hawkers discard rotten vegetable on — well, let the photograph speak for itself — forcing pedestrians walk on slippery surface.
To make it objective, it’s not tomatoes all the way around Bengaluru. The threat to pedestrians comes in different forms and sizes.
Bengaluru, 6 July: A shopkeeper has conveniently stored his cartons on the footpath, while pedestrians walk on the road, near the Banashankari Metro Station.
Also See: Join the campaign to usher in the era of civic accountability
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.
Also Read: GBA’s ‘unbalanced’ Safe Footpath Campaign raises livelihood questions
