Chennai: One of the biggest problems pedestrians in the Adyar locality were facing was the misuse of pavements.
The pathways in most places were either encroached or were in a bad shape. However, the neighbourhood is now witnessing a change.
For the benefit of walkers, bollards are being constructed on the pavements in a few areas.
According to sources, the project is being done by Bus Route Roads (BRR) department for better pedestrian movement. This will help bring down the number of road mishaps involving those who walk.
The initiative is also undertaken to avoid buses and other vehicles riding on the pavements or parking there.
Speaking to News Today, an official of the BRR, said, “We took up the project due to rampant unauthorised parking and encroachments. The pedestrian path is for people to walk and not for vehicles. Walkers must be able to move freely. Now with bollards, it is impossible for pavements to be misused. We have done the work at Third Cross Street in Kasturibai Nagar and First Avenue, Indira Nagar.”
It is said each bollard is built at a cost of Rs 3,000. “We have designed it in a way that even the differently-abled can use it,” he said.
“This way, motorists cannot ride on the footpath. This is also beneficial for senior citizens to walk without worry on the pavement. This also restricts hawkers and vendors from occupying the pavements,” stated another official.
It is also alleged that people are now seen parking vehicles on residential streets, thereby causing congestion on those stretches.