No place to walk at the Dwarka junction of Nashik city
As many as 44 pedestrians were killed in road accidents between Jan 1 and Aug 31 this year, a 22% rise from 36 deaths recorded during the same period last year, exposing the growing danger faced by those on foot and the city’s chronic lack of pedestrian-friendly infrastructure. Police data shows pedestrians accounted for 34% of the 128 road fatalities reported in the city this year, highlighting how vulnerable road users are paying the highest price for unsafe roads, speeding vehicles and poor civic planning. On Aug 30, a 76-year-old man was killed in a hit-and-run accident near Swami Narayan temple on the Mumbai-Agra highway at Adgaon Naka while navigating a road packed with speeding vehicles.
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“For pedestrians, especially the elderly, crossing roads has become an ordeal,” said Alka Pawar, a 68-year-old resident of Upnagar. “People seem to have accepted these deaths as routine,” said a road safety activist. “The focus remains on moving vehicles faster, while the safety of those walking is ignored,” the activist added.
Nashik: For pedestrians in the city, a simple walk to the market or crossing a busy road is increasingly becoming a life-threatening exercise. Road safety experts and residents point to a combination of rash driving , rampant overspeeding and the near absence of usable footpaths. Even where sidewalks exist, they are often encroached upon by shop extensions, food stalls, kiosks and parked vehicles, forcing pedestrians onto carriageways already crowded with fast-moving traffic. The risks are particularly severe for senior citizens. “There is little choice but to risk our lives. We are lucky if we find someone to help us cross, and even luckier if we are not hit. The constant flow of vehicles and relentless honking leave women like us scared. Residents say the rising death toll reflects years of neglect of pedestrian infrastructure. Many major roads lack safe crossings, pedestrian refuges, traffic-calming measures or continuous footpaths. At several junctions, walkers are left to weave through traffic with no dedicated facilities for safe movement. Despite the steady stream of fatalities each year, residents argue that pedestrian deaths rarely trigger the urgency accorded to other civic issues. The civic administration has proposed projects including wider obstruction-free footpaths, dedicated cycle tracks and safer pedestrian crossings. Urban planners believe such infrastructure can not only save lives but also reduce congestion and encourage non-motorised transport. Download the TOI App.