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Bad roads, potholes, poor sub ways, in adequate street lights... Reading reports of pedestrian deaths due to poor infrastructure, Jenny poor infrastructure, Jenny Pinto decided to take matters in her hand instead of just closing the newspaper and getting on with her life.

The designer filed a pub lic interest litigation (PIL) in the Karnataka high court in 2013 to change the administrators' way of looking at pedestrian safety. She wanted the authorities to realize that safety is a fundamental right of pedestrians.

"India has the highest number of accident deaths in the world and Bengaluru reports one of the highest numbers of pedestrian deaths in the country. Most of these deaths occur due to bad design of roads, inefficiency of the administrators and corruption in the civic body. I felt that if people were dying because of the government's inefficiency, bad road design and corruption, then it's simply criminal and the officials needed to be punished," says the 55-year-old resident of Indiranagar. With the help of a lawyer and Praja, an online citizens' forum in Bengaluru, she looked into rules and regulations for pedestrian safety . "We found we had a strong case because there was a dereliction of duty and the government was clearly breaking the law. Besides, citizens were being denied their fundamental right to safe passage and their right to life every time they stepped out on to a street. So we filed a PIL and it was admitted by the high court," she says.

She also got the support of the Spastics Society, the Association For The Blind and other associations for the physically challenged in the cause. Reacting to the state of the civic governance in Bengaluru, Jenny says, "If you take a broader view, the political economy today facilitates urbanization in India; and it is quite predictable that our cities -both large and small -will grow in population and prosper.The basic economic need of a growing city is good mobility and it's completely inexcusable that governments do not plan for safe and fast mobility in our cities. The roads and public spaces are appalling and the lack of safety is totally unacceptable."

Explaining her battle against the government, she says, "The journey of the PIL has been bumpy at best. The Chief Justice gave BBMP some very clear and time-bound directions all through 2014 -all in the presence of the then BBMP commissioner. However, BBMP has ignored these directions and been very casual in its response. Now, the confusion over trifurcation and the election have muddied the already murky situation. We hope to get back on track once the elections are over."

Jenny says Bengaluru sorely needs leaders and administrators who would value the city's ability to be a place of vibrant and dynamic life and growth that would eventually lead to a smarter and safer city for all.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/Designer-puts-BBMP-in-the-dock-to-make-roads-safer-for-pedestrians/articleshow/48521862.cms?cfmid=14000000

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Now PIL on Pedestrain safety  has brought BBMP to its knee and  lets keep the pressure so that BBMP will act with court directions

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The pavement in front of Iskcon temple on West of Chord Road, Rajajinagar is used for everything else but walking. 

Many vehicles are parked on the footpath and the hotel next to Iskcon uses the pavement as parking space for its customers. Even visitors to Iskcon park on the pavement. Pedestrians are forced to walk on the main road. 

The one-way rule on the road is also violated by vehicles entering Iskcon or proceeding towards Narayana Nethralaya which is next to Iskcon. Push cart vendors too set up shop blocking the pavement.

Iskcon attracts thousands of people and they are all forced to walk on the road risking their lives.

 Even the bus stop next to Iskcon is not spared. Water tankers are parked here throughout the day. The absence of traffic police is conspicuous. They come here only when a VIP visits Iskcon.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/432083/people039s-problems.html

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Church Street and Crescent Road Pedestrian facility in Prajavani paper. When will BBMP and so called educated citizens respect our own footpaths and pedestrian facility

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Even as PIL (WP 13731/2013 - Jenny Pinto and another vs. The State of Karnataka and others) is not active currently, due to transer of CJ, several directions hasve already been issued by the court, over the many hearings so far, which provide enough ammunition to local Civil Society/ RWA groups to move the counsillor and AE to do some real work. The more important directions are listed below:

1) All unauthorized encroachments, constructions and obstructions either temporary or permanent on the existing footpaths shall be removed without notice, within a period of three months, in exercise of the powers under Section 288-D of the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act, 1976.

2) The BBMP shall also repair and make the unscientifically and improperly laid footpaths pedestrian-friendly as early as may be and latest by expiry of the period of six months.

3) The Chief Engineer of respective zones shall be responsible to carry out the above activities, in accordance with law, and ensure maintenance of the footpaths in a clean, clear and encroachment-free condition for smooth pedestrian traffic.

4) Individual and personal responsibility shall be fixed among the officers concerned of BBMP for construction, repair and maintenance of proper footpaths in particular zones, so as to make them liable for any failure on their part, dereliction of duty or injury or loss caused to any pedestrian on account of failure on the part of BBMP to keep the footpaths clear and in good repair.

5) As provided under the express provisions of Section 266 of the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act, 1976, the Corporation is duty bound to cause the public streets to be maintained and repaired and make all such improvements thereto, as are necessary or expedient for the public safety and convenience.

6) Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014 have come into force and the government is required to frame a scheme within six months after due consultation with the local authority and Town Vending Committee, for the matters provided in Schedule-II of Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014.

7) A permanent mechanism is required to be put in place so that complaints of the public are immediately addressed for removal of encroachments on the footpaths and immediate repair of the footpaths where they pose danger to the life or limbs of the people who have to use the footpath.

8) In case of any serious accident or injury to the pedestrians on account of encroachment on the footpath or the footpath having not been maintained in proper walk-able condition, criminal prosecution will have to be launched wherein the officer concerned of the municipal corporation should be named as one of the accused for negligence in discharge of his duties.

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