Address pedestrian's safety!

29th-Jan-2012
There is no doubt the obstruction due to road construction is going on these days. It is for better construction of roads and footpath and to co-operate such activities is a good way to encourage government for further developmental works. Of course, the pedestrians are facing a big problem and having risk of accidents, but they should understand this step is for their good. Everybody should have keen interest on this progression rather showing contrary behaviour. However, for people’s safety, the work should finish on time and the construction process should move quickly along with demolition. In addition, people who are living illegally should obey and follow government’s rules, but it is also the responsibility of the country to settle homeless people in appropriate places. Hence, the work can only run smoothly and accordingly if there is a good collaboration between the government and people.

— Trishna Acharya, Teku, Kathmandu



n Footpaths are the safety features of road for free flow of people. However, in our country especially in congested cities, it is difficult to walk on the footpaths. It is either occupied by construction material, encroached by vendors or by the pile of garbage. Footpaths are used as toilet in cities too. Population and traffic are increasing in the same ratio in cities like Kathmandu. Authorities are only managing the traffic, it is high time they thought about the footpath for the people. In my prospect, footpaths should be constructed far from the main roads. It must be wider where vehicles should be prohibited.

— Ankit Shrestha, Student of Civil Engineering,

Khwopa Engineering College

n This problem is the one that annoys me the most! Even if there is nothing on the footpath, the two wheelers are in a hurry. They have to use footpath as their road if there is any traffic jam. On top of that, the piles of garbage on the footpath just make it more

miserable. Therefore, everything just makes it impossible to walk on the footpath.

In Kathmandu, it is not safe from any angle to walk as pedestrians. You don’t know when you will be hit by any vehicle and the sidewalks are always congested. Moreover, the condition is pathetic for girls as the boys riding two wheelers intentionally hit them, which I recently observed in Kathmandu. The solution would be to take some action and strongly implement rules. Two wheelers riding on the footpath, abusing girls should be fined.

— Sonam Singh, Minbhawan



n It is undoubtedly unsafe and uncomfortable to walk on the streets as a pedestrian. Streets are not even sufficient for vehicles; enough space for people to walk on it is the last thing. Nonetheless, construction and demolition work cannot be avoided. Proper management can be done to save many lives and avoid road hazards. Things go wrong because we are careless. I do not think it is such a big deal if pedestrians are given some space to walk on, by arranging construction materials at one corner. This way, Nepalis can at least be satisfied with something.

— Sarita Pokharel, Gangabu



n Metropolitan Police Office is extensively demolishing physical structures such as retaining walls, parts of houses and even the existing footpaths to expand the Valley roads. With increasing population, number of vehicles is also increasing. This urban development task of widening the roads has become necessary. However, it seems that adequate space has not been left for footpath construction overlooking the rights of the pedestrians. Breaking structures are necessary to expand the road, but it is not sufficient for safe movement considering the obstruction created by demolished materials

littered on the roadside.

For limited space of footpath or lack of it, pedestrians are bound to walk on the roads instead, which makes them prone to accidents. Minimum width of footpath for pedestrian needs to be fixed, the remaining space needs to be used for expanding motorable road. It is not necessary that the footpath needs to be very wide, as the width alone does not guarantee pedestrians’ safety.

Using footpath by shops, vendors, and motorcyclist is entirely wrong. It is considered as no person’s land and even used for storing construction materials by local. Therefore, such footpath-obstructing practices should strictly be discouraged.

— Basan Shrestha,

Ghattekulo Marg

n Many new houses and buildings have been constructed in the urban areas within the last few years. Due to increased construction, there is increasing obstruction in roads and footpaths with iron rods, stones, sand, et cetera. Pedestrians are facing difficulties due to narrow and crowded footpath. Some people park vehicles, sell goods and sometimes they are crowded by the vendors and pedestrian have no option than to walk on the streets rather than on footpath. Therefore, they become unsafe and uncomfortable on the road, which can lead to accidents too.

Footpaths are for pedestrians and they have the right to use them. Therefore, government should be aware about the persisting situation and take strict action against obstruction and blockage as well as the construction and demolition work on the footpath.

— Rajan

Bajracharya,

Brahma Tole,

n It is clear to everybody that with the construction and demolition of buildings and its parts, pedestrians are really facing problem. This forces the pedestrian to take risk by walking on the street due to lack of space. In order to ensure safety of the pedestrians, the government must go for planned demolition and for the construction of new buildings; there must be supervision by government authorities so that no obstacle is created while these pedestrians are walking. Only then, safety will be ensured.

— Pratik Shrestha,

Buddhanagar, Baneshwor



n The construction materials and debris dumped on sidewalks make pedestrians feel

claustrophobic. They fear of being hit by falling stones or sands. They are bound to walk on road as there is insufficient space on footpaths. Walking on the roads is safe only when there are no vehicles. Walking in the pathway is not comfortable

because of traffic snarls, hustle and bustle. Therefore, law enforcement agency should come into action immediately and get such hurdles of pavements cleared. Those who have dumped those construction materials express their reluctance to clear the hurdles off the sidewalk, severe punishment as per the law.

— Krishna Kumar Limboo, Dumarbana VDC, Bara



n I could not walk freely because of dispersed stones, sand, bricks, rods, et cetera on the footpath. I often get scared of being hit from vehicles moving on the road. Therefore, I humbly urge all the stakeholders concerned to complete the road expansion works at the earliest and make comfortable footpaths that are safe to walk on. Only then the ugly appearance of our Capital city will turn into an

admirable place.

— Birat Anupam, Dantakali FM, Dharan -13 Sunsari