As the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) focuses on constructing the main Aarey Milk Colony road using cement concrete, it appears that they may have overlooked an important aspect for pedestrians who use the road. The lack of designated space or pavements for pedestrians raises worries about safety and well-being.
Thousands of people reside inside Aarey Milk Colony, and the main road is also used by hundreds of pedestrians daily, including morning and evening walkers. Aarey Milk Colony is also a preferred location among nature lovers who visit the area. The lack of public space or footpaths for walking is a concerning issue, as senior citizens and children also have to walk on the road, risking their lives.
Wildlife lover Virat Singh, a regular visitor to Aarey Milk Colony, said, “It’s surprising that while building the new concrete road, India’s richest civic body didn’t consider pedestrians. Right now, it’s a nightmare to walk on this road. One must manage dust pollution and avoid being hit by speeding vehicles. Since there are no designated spaces for pedestrians, the situation for those walking is miserable as traffic jams cause bikers, autorickshaws, and other vehicles to clog the entire space, leaving no room for pedestrians.”
Aarey resident Uday Sangle said, “Aarey is one of the largest unrestricted green lungs of Mumbai, and many people, including locals, walk on the Aarey road. Apart from locals, Aarey also sees heavy pedestrian traffic from those working or visiting for walking and running. BMC should prioritise pedestrians and provide them with access to safe walking spaces inside Aarey.”
Swapnil Shetty, a regular visitor to Aarey, said, “Like me, there are hundreds of people who visit Aarey daily, and the biggest problem pedestrians face is the lack of footpaths along the main Aarey road.” The Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) administration, which manages 812 acres of forest area in Aarey Milk Colony, is also concerned about the high speeds at which vehicles travel on the main Aarey Milk Colony road. The SGNP authorities also plan to write a letter to the BMC administration to restrict the speed limit on the road to 20 kmph and install speed breakers at regular intervals to prevent accidents involving animals.
A forest department official said, “The possibility of rare wildlife accidents due to speeding vehicles cannot be ruled out, so the department concerned must take immediate action to install speed breakers on the road where necessary, as suggested by the forest department.” A total of 4,514 people died due to road accidents in Mumbai between 2013 and 2021. Shockingly, 2,326 (51 per cent) of the victims were pedestrians, followed by 1,142 (25 per cent) bikers and 493 pillion riders. Additionally, 190 people driving cars were killed, along with 111 co-passengers.
4,514
No of deaths due to road accidents in Mumbai between ’13-‘21
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