How safe are pedestrians on our roads?

India is a nation of walkers. According to the 2011 census, one third of all work trips are by foot. Women walk to work more than men. And 60% of school journeys are by walk (NSO). Indian roads are unsafe for walkers. Almost 26,000 pedestrians, an 85% increase in the last 5 years, have died on Indian roads. Chennai’s OMR stretch alone sees as many as 34 pedestrian deaths a year. 90% of these deaths were from pedestrians trying to cross the road (Greater Chennai Traffic Police, 2019).

‘A robust master plan can be ambitious but more importantly, must be achievable; it must include citizens’ views, for that is the ultimate aim of the plan - to build a city which offers its residents a sustainable lifestyle and equitable access to its  resources’, said Sumana Narayanan, Senior Researcher, CAG. The webinar offered just that - a space to discuss the evolution and transformation of master planning and mobility in Chennai and a platform where citizens could discuss their aspirations for the third master plan.

Competition in power markets enhances efficiency in the sector, while bringing in additional finance and capital to strengthen the sector. Consumers are provided with greater choices in service providers and business models such as Opex and open access as per their energy requirements, load patterns and economic and financial considerations.