Bengaluru: BTP book 71,183 cases of footpath parking, city ranked first in pedestrian deaths nationwide

Over the course of this year, the Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) has booked 71,183 cases of footpath parking. With footpath parking posing a widespread problem in the city and jeopardizing the safety of pedestrians, citizens are urging the traffic police to intensify their efforts in addressing this issue.

Pedestrians are facing challenges in navigating deteriorating footpaths, exacerbated by the parking of two-wheelers and four-wheelers. Citizens advocate for stringent measures against footpath parking violators, particularly in high-footfall commercial areas. They emphasize that construction projects should not be granted permits unless sufficient parking space is allocated for residents and visitors. Simultaneously, strict enforcement is deemed crucial to curb persistent footpath parking issues.

Bengaluru currently holds the position of the second-highest number of road accident-related fatalities in the country, trailing only behind Delhi. Recent data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reveals that the city has reported the highest count of pedestrian deaths nationwide, with 247 fatalities and 822 injuries. Bengaluru ranks second in pedestrian accidents, following Chennai.

To enhance pedestrian safety, citizens call for collaboration between the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) municipal body and the police department. They stress the need for the removal of obstacles contributing to unsafe conditions for pedestrians.

In addition to footpath parking cases, the police have also taken action against riding on footpaths, with 8,884 cases reported this year.