Mon Dec 08 17:13:36 UTC 2025: Summary:
A recent Right to Information (RTI) request reveals that pedestrian fatalities in Coimbatore, India account for 37% of all road accident deaths in the first ten months of 2025. This is significantly higher than the national average of 20%, indicating a lack of adequate pedestrian safety infrastructure in the city. While pelican signals exist, crucial infrastructure like subways and foot overbridges are lacking at several key junctions despite previous funding allocations. The Coimbatore City Police acknowledge the need for these structures, even deploying personnel to manage pedestrian traffic. An advocate and member of the District Road Safety Committee has raised these concerns with the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety.
News Article:
Coimbatore Pedestrian Deaths Surge: Lack of Infrastructure Blamed
Coimbatore, India – December 8, 2025 – A staggering 37% of road traffic fatalities in Coimbatore this year involved pedestrians, according to data obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) request. This alarming figure, revealed today, is significantly higher than the national average of 20% and has sparked outrage among citizen groups and raised serious questions about pedestrian safety in the city.
The data, covering January to October 2025, shows that 86 of the 232 lives lost on Coimbatore roads were pedestrians. In response to the findings, K. Kathirmathiyon of Coimbatore Consumer Cause, who filed the RTI request, stated that the statistics highlight the severe neglect of pedestrian safety by city authorities, including the Highways Department.
The Coimbatore City Police have acknowledged the urgent need for subways and foot overbridges at various high-traffic locations, including Anna Statue, Lakshmi Mills junction, and Gandhipuram junction. According to the RTI response, these crossings are vital for ensuring pedestrian safety.
Despite the recognized need, past funding allocations for constructing this crucial infrastructure remain unutilized. “There was allocation of ₹15 crore for five subways or foot over bridges for Avinashi Road flyover in the original plan, but it was not executed,” said Mr. Kathirmathiyon. “Similarly, ₹5 crore allocation for a subway at Gandhipuram junction for the flyover was also not utilised.”
The absence of these safe crossing options forces police to deploy officers at busy junctions to manage pedestrian flow, a situation deemed unsustainable in the long term.
Mr. Kathirmathiyon, also a member of the District Road Safety Committee, has escalated the issue, recently bringing the lack of pedestrian facilities to the attention of the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety. The revelation of these alarming statistics is expected to put pressure on local authorities to prioritize and expedite the development of safer pedestrian infrastructure in Coimbatore.
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