SC Puts Pedestrians First, but Telangana Roads Remain Deadly for Walkers

 Hyderabad: The Supreme Court’s declaration that walking on safe footpaths was a fundamental right has renewed attention on pedestrian safety in Telangana, where 1,554 pedestrians were killed in road crashes in 2023, according to the Union ministry of road transport and highways’ (MoRTH) ‘Road Accidents in India 2023’ report.

The figure accounted for nearly one in every five road fatalities recorded in the state that year. Data from the MoRTH report showed pedestrian crashes in the state increased from 3,695 in 2021 to 4,400 in 2023. The data called into question not only the lack of footpaths but also unsafe road design and uncontrolled occupation of walkways.

In its judgment delivered on Friday, the Supreme Court said the right to move freely included the right to walk safely on demarcated footpaths and observed that roads could not be planned solely for motor vehicles.

The ruling comes as Telangana continues to record a high number of pedestrian deaths. While missing and encroached footpaths are often cited as a major concern, official figures suggest the issue extends beyond pedestrian infrastructure. According to MoRTH data, speeding was responsible for 6,720 of the 7,582 road fatalities recorded in Telangana in 2023, accounting for nearly 89 per cent of all deaths on the road.

An urban road safety activist, speaking about the situation, said pedestrian deaths were often viewed through the lens of individual behaviour rather than road design. “Pedestrian deaths are often blamed on careless road crossing, but that explanation ignores the larger problem,” R. Mallikarjun told Deccan Chronicle.

“When roads are designed to move vehicles quickly and pedestrian facilities are missing, unsafe behaviour becomes inevitable. The data shows that speeding is responsible for a large share of road fatalities in Telangana. The focus must shift from blaming individuals to creating roads that are forgiving, safe and accessible for everyone, including those on foot,” Mallikarjun said.

In Hyderabad, pedestrians often have to walk long distances to find a designated crossing. At several junctions, footpaths end abruptly, zebra crossings are faded or missing and pedestrian signals are either absent or poorly enforced.

A daily commuter described the difficulties faced by people who depend on walking and public transport. “Walking to work feels like a challenge. In many places the footpath suddenly disappears, forcing us onto the road alongside fast-moving vehicles,” Anusha Bandugula said. She added that at busy junctions, drivers rarely stop for pedestrians, even when people are trying to cross. “We are constantly told to use designated crossings, but many times they are too far away or not maintained properly.”

Another pedestrian, Padmaja Chittyala, pointed to the lack of safe alternatives. “I do not own a vehicle and depend on walking and public transport. The journey between the bus stop and my destination is often the most dangerous part of the trip. There are stretches without footpaths, damaged pavements and poorly marked crossings. Many people take risks not because they want to, but because they do not have a safe alternative.”

The Telangana transport department reported 25,934 road accidents and 7,281 fatalities in 2024. While category-wise pedestrian figures for 2024 are yet to be released, road safety advocates say conditions for walkers remain largely unchanged.

The Supreme Court observed that where roads exist, authorities have a corresponding duty to provide and maintain pedestrian infrastructure. For Telangana, where pedestrians remain among the most vulnerable road users, the judgment has added urgency to demands for safer footpaths, protected crossings, traffic calming measures and stricter enforcement against speeding.