Tue Oct 08 20:54:07 UTC 2024: ## Bengaluru’s Broken Footpaths Turn Walking into “Extreme Sport”
**Bengaluru, India** – A software engineer in Bengaluru has taken to social media to highlight the dangerous state of footpaths in the city, describing walking as an “extreme sport” due to broken pavements and poorly maintained infrastructure.
Yogeesh Prabhuswamy Gandige, 41, documented his experience at the Konanakunte bus stop near Forum South Mall, where he encountered broken footpaths, debris-strewn pavements, and rainwater sponge drains. He shared two videos on X, formerly Twitter, showcasing the hazardous conditions that force commuters to navigate perilously on unstable structures while waiting for buses.
“Walking in Bengaluru is an extreme sport. Need the skill to balance on a tiny concrete strip and to jump from footpath to road!” Gandige wrote in his post, highlighting the constant need for agility and balance to avoid injury.
He also shared his frustration at being forced to choose between risking injury by using the broken footpaths or avoiding the bus altogether. “No, I didn’t dare take this bus! Just one slip and a lifetime injury – that’s how pedestrians are treated in the so-called ‘Infra Era’!” he wrote.
Gandige’s post has gone viral, sparking outrage among many users who echoed his concerns about the city’s poor infrastructure and the dangers it poses to pedestrians. Many highlighted that the problem extends beyond just one location, with similar conditions prevalent in Whitefield and other areas.
“Even more shameful for bbmp is that these have been built just now, not old crumbling infrastructure,” commented one user, highlighting the shoddy quality of even new infrastructure developments.
The post has received over 25,000 views, with many calling for the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the city’s civic body, to take action and ensure the safety of pedestrians.
“Pedestrians are lowest in hierarchy on the roads. We do not have good roads, we have worse or non existent footpaths, projects that are started (ejipura flyover, bellandur lake bridge) are left incomplete…,” one individual commented, highlighting the general disregard for pedestrian safety.
This incident underscores the need for a more pedestrian-friendly approach to urban planning in Bengaluru. While the city is undergoing rapid development, the quality of infrastructure and the safety of its citizens cannot be overlooked.
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