Delhi is a city of speed. Its expressways, flyovers, and metro lines give an impression of modern mobility. Yet, beneath this glossy surface lies a grim reality: the capital remains one of the most dangerous cities in India for pedestrians.
For lakhs of people, mobility is not about four-wheelers or fast corridors—it is about walking. But Delhi has systematically neglected its walkers, forcing them into unsafe, narrow, and broken pathways that often double as garbage dumps or parking lots. The result? High pedestrian fatalities and an everyday struggle for dignity and safety.
The Stark Reality of Road Accidents in Delhi
According to the Delhi Road Accident Report 2022 (Delhi Traffic Police, MoRTH data):
- 1,461 people lost their lives in road accidents in Delhi.
- Pedestrians accounted for 41% of deaths, the highest among all categories of road users.
- Two-wheelers followed closely, but pedestrian deaths have consistently stayed above 35–40% for the past decade.
- Overspeeding was the cause in more than 60% of fatal crashes.
This means that almost every second person killed in a Delhi road crash was simply walking—trying to cross the road, returning from work, or heading to school.
Children, senior citizens, and the urban poor are disproportionately affected, highlighting the stark inequity of Delhi’s transport design.
Why Pedestrians Remain Vulnerable
- Lack of Continuous Footpaths: Many roads, including major arterial stretches, simply don’t have pavements.
- Encroachment: Vendors, parked vehicles, and construction material often occupy walking space.
- Unsafe Crossings: Zebra crossings are faded, signals don’t prioritize walkers, and flyovers push foot traffic into long detours.
- Hostile Road Design: Wide carriageways with no speed calming encourage overspeeding.
- Neglect of Last-Mile Connectivity: Delhi Metro carries over 60 lakh passengers daily, but walking from a station to home or office remains hazardous.
Why Walking Space Matters
Walking is not just a mode of transport; it is the foundation of mobility:
- Equity: Nearly 30% of Delhi households do not own motorized vehicles (NITI Aayog, 2021). For them, walking is essential.
- Health: Delhi has one of the highest prevalence rates of obesity and diabetes. Walking tracks promote active lifestyles.
- Environment: With Delhi topping air pollution charts, shifting short car trips to walking helps reduce emissions.
- Safety: Studies show that cities with better pedestrian infrastructure report significantly lower road fatalities.
- Dignity: A walkable city respects all citizens—not just those in cars.
Adding Walking Tracks: Practical Solutions
The good news is that Delhi doesn’t need futuristic technology—it needs better planning and enforcement.
1. Redesign Footpaths
- Adopt the IRC (Indian Roads Congress) 103 guidelines for 1.8–2.5m wide footpaths.
- Ensure they are continuous, obstruction-free, and wheelchair accessible.
- Lighting, tactile paving, and ramps must be mandatory.
2. Use Road Margins and Green Belts
- Margins along Outer Ring Road, Vikas Marg, and NH-24 can be converted into dedicated walking tracks.
- Protect these from encroachment with bollards or fencing.
- Add trees for shade, especially critical in Delhi’s heat.
3. Green Belt Walking Loops
- Link Delhi’s green belts into parallel walking circuits away from traffic.
- Residential zones like Dwarka and Rohini have scope to formalize such loops.
4. Pedestrianize Markets
- Chandni Chowk’s redevelopment reduced chaos, accidents, and even boosted business.
- Expand this to Karol Bagh, Sarojini Nagar, and Connaught Place with planned pedestrian-only stretches.
5. Walkways Along Metro Corridors
- Last-mile access to stations like Rajiv Chowk, Hauz Khas, and Kashmere Gate needs dedicated shaded walkways.
- Incorporate seating, vending kiosks, and cycle tracks to reduce jaywalking.
6. Colony-Level Tracks
- RWAs can develop internal walking circuits around parks with speed restrictions for vehicles.
- Encourage community ownership—especially for children and senior citizens.
7. Enforcement and Planning
- Strictly enforce pedestrian right-of-way.
- Build raised pedestrian crossings and speed tables in accident-prone zones.
- Make walkability audits compulsory before any new road project is approved.
Delhi Case Studies
- Chandni Chowk Pedestrianization (2021): Fatalities reduced, footfall increased, and businesses benefited.
- Central Vista Redevelopment (2022): Continuous shaded paths and wide pedestrian boulevards integrated into national landmark design.
- Connaught Place Car-Free Trials: Demonstrated how markets thrive when cars are kept out, even temporarily.
These show that safe walking infrastructure is not just a “nice-to-have”—it improves safety, environment, and economy.
The Way Forward: A Call for Walkability
Delhi’s future should not be measured only by the number of expressways or flyovers built, but by how safely and comfortably its people can walk.
A child should be able to walk to school without fear, an elderly person should be able to cross the road without risking life, and every commuter should complete their last mile in safety and dignity.
Creating walking tracks and reclaiming pedestrian space is not just about transport—it is about equity, health, safety, and sustainability.
Delhi has the policies (Delhi Master Plan 2041, National Road Safety Policy, Smart Cities Mission). What it needs now is enforcement, prioritization, and citizen pressure to reclaim its roads for people, not just for cars.
A truly world-class Delhi will not be the one with the fastest cars, but the one with the safest walkers.
✅ References:
- Delhi Traffic Police. Road Accident Report 2022. Government of NCT Delhi; 2023.
- Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). Road Accidents in India 2022. Government of India; 2023.
- NITI Aayog. Transforming Mobility for India. Government of India; 2021.
- Indian Roads Congress (IRC). Guidelines for Pedestrian Facilities (IRC 103-2012). New Delhi.
- Delhi Development Authority. Draft Master Plan for Delhi 2041. Government of NCT Delhi; 2021.
