Walk-o-meter rating: 2/5From Richmond Circle to Shoolay Circle and D’Souza CircleBengaluru: If a hurdle race were to be conducted in the tech capital now, Richmond Road would qualify to provide the perfect turf. From displaced cobblestones to missing bollards, multiple trash mounds to dusty stretches, the nearly 2.7km arterial road in central Bengaluru — one of the oldest in the city — has all the hurdles an ordinary walker would dread.Interestingly, the road is flanked by four major schools that draw thousands of students every day. It is dotted by churches and masjids along with scores of commercial establishments and office spaces. It was one of the first roads that got a facelift under TenderSURE (Specifications for Urban Road Execution), a project aimed at getting the urban road right on all fronts, including good footpaths.With complaints about the sordid state of footpaths on the rise, The Times of India team embarked on a reality check by walking for 1.3km from Richmond Circle to Shoolay Circle and to D’Souza Circle (near Sacred Heart Church). What emerged was a shocker: there were at least 90 obstacles on the pavement, including debris and encroachments!At several points, pedestrians were forced to step onto the main carriageway, risking being hit by a passing vehicle. The problems started at the beginning of Richmond Circle as the walkway was disrupted with damaged drain slabs, exposed electrical cables, and a heavy layer of dust caused by pipe-laying works being carried out for nearly a month.Though pipeline-laying appeared to have been completed, excavated stretches had been hastily filled with gravel and loose stones, leaving uneven surfaces and debris that made walking unsafe.Further ahead, construction materials, including jelly stones, sand, cement bags, concrete pipes, and loose manhole covers, occupied large portions of the footpath.Garbage was another persistent concern — plastic waste, cigarette packets, gutka sachets, bottles, and silt lined several stretches. Broken paving blocks, sunken cobblestones, damaged drain covers, and partially open utility ducts added to the hazards. Students walking to school and college were forced to navigate the damaged pavements and dust.On the return stretch from Shoolay Circle, a different problem emerged. Restaurants extended seating onto the pavement, scooters and autos occupied pedestrian space, while street vendors, food carts, and commercial spillovers left little room to walk. In some places, bollards were intentionally removed and the pavement was used by delivery agents.Many residents, who have stopped going for morning and evening walks, have appealed to local MLA NA Haris (also BDA chairman) to ensure the pipe-replacement work is completed at the earliest and the road is asphalted.What citizens sayFootpaths are definitely not in right condition here. Many stretches are broken, which makes them dangerous, especially for senior citizens. There are hawkers occupying portions of footpaths, vehicles are parked on pedestrian space, and garbage is not cleared regularly. The whole idea of having walkable neighbourhoods is defeated when people are unable to use footpaths comfortably. We have been writing to GBA for the longest time, but there has been no improvement: Pratibha Panth, president, Richmond Town Citizens’ Welfare Association.The condition of footpaths varies with locality. Though they are relatively better here, I feel uneasy while walking because of dog poop and two-wheeler riders. Garbage dumping on pavements is another issue: Chim Telesn, commuter.I commute by bus from my workplace on Magrath Road to Banashankari III Stage every day. I’m physically challenged and use the footpath to reach Richmond Town bus stop. I’ve learnt to take extra care when I’m walking, and during rain it becomes worse: Manjunath R, resident of BSK III Stage.Obstructions & How ManyGarbage spots: 19+Broken footpath sections: 18+Manhole covers lying/open/damaged: 11Wires (electric/OFC/cable): 10+Vehicle parking hotspots: 8+Barricades: 7Small open drains: 5Food carts: 5Huge cement pipes: 4Brick piles: 3Total: 90+
