Do metro cities have space for pedestrians?

In Focus by The Hindu · Aug 18, 2026 · 28m

What does it say about our cities when the Supreme Court has to remind governments that people have a fundamental right to walk?

The Court’s recent judgment on footpaths has put a very basic question back on the table - who does the city actually make space for, the pedestrian or the vehicle?

In cities like Bengaluru, the answer is visible on the street. Footpaths are taken over by parking, vendors, utility infrastructure and construction, while in several places there is barely a footpath to begin with. But is “encroachment” really the problem, or have we never planned our streets around…