[sustran] Re: Hyderabad : Pedestrian Policy soon!!

[Kanthi Kannan]

http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/mobile.aspx?article=yes
<http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/mobile.aspx?article=yes&pageid=4&edlabe
l=TOIH&mydateHid=03-10-2011&pubname=&edname=&articleid=Ar00401&format=&publa
bel=TOI>
&pageid=4&edlabel=TOIH&mydateHid=03-10-2011&pubname=&edname=&articleid=Ar004
01&format=&publabel=TOI

 

 

A pedestrian policy for city soon 

GHMC Has Grand Plans To Make Major City Roads More Pedestrian Friendly 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 

Hyderabad: To make city roads, especially busy thoroughfares,
pedestrian-friendly, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is
contemplating to bring in a pedestrian policy.
In the US, some states have initiated pedestrian policies not only for the
safety of pedestrians, but also to encourage walking and bicycling.
The GHMC had a couple of years ago prepared a hawkers policy which was
approved by the municipal administration and urban development (MA&UD)
department. The policy had categorized the city roads into three types: Red,
Amber and Green zones for hawkers.
GHMC commissioner MT Krishna Babu has asked the town planning wing to
prepare a pedestrian policy for the city. Official sources said now the
pedestrian policy would basically specify facilities that need to be
provided while widening or developing a road like standardised width and
height of a footpath, designs, barricading (wherever necessary) and other
aspects of footpaths. The corporation is planning to implement the
pedestrian policy at least on major roads in the city. A proposal is being
considered to allocate a separate budget for the development of footpaths.
With people and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) like the Right to Walk
Foundation, demanding footpaths and other facilities for pedestrians, the
GHMC has recently decided to develop five city roads-__ Road No.10 and 12 of
Banjara Hills, Road No.36 of Jubilee Hills, Himayatnagar-Liberty Road and
the road opposite Salar Jung Museum as model roads with pedestrian
facilities, including wide footpaths. The commissioner even conducted an
interactive meeting with NGOs on improvement of pedestrian facilities in the
city.
Apart from these five roads, another 100 km is being proposed for
development with proper pavements, removal of encroachments and relocation
of electrical transformers and ducts. A special purpose vehicle (SPV) is
being set up for construction of permanent cable ducts along the roads by
private telephone companies,cable operators and other service providers.
A separate division is being set up at the GHMC headquarters exclusively for
development of main roads. One superintending engineer and three executive
engineers along with other staff would be allocated for the division.
GHMC engineering wing officials said the proposals and estimations on the
identified five roads have been taken up.The corporation also invited
suggestions on the development of footpaths and other facilities from NGOs.

FOR A GREENER CITY 

Pedestrian policy aims to prepare guidelines for developing footpaths,
standardise width and height of footpaths, develop designs, including
barricades and other aspects of footpaths To start with, GHMC plans to
implement the pedestrian policy at all major roads in the city A separate
budget for developing footpaths is also under consideration of the civic
body