[sustran] Here, pedestrians tread on loose, broken tiles

[Vinay Baindur]

Here, pedestrians tread on loose, broken tilesTNN, Sep 25, 2010, 04.23am IST
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Here-pedestrians-tread-on-loose-broken-tiles/articleshow/6622768.cms

PUNE: Footpaths are intended for safe pedestrian walking where all other
forms of traffic are excluded and prohibited. However, a look at what
Fergusson College and Jangli Maharaj roads have for footpaths are a
revelation in exactly what they should not be.

Here's what is wrong with them. The tiles that were laid recently are broken
in several places, others are loose, many are missing at several places and
rubble lies scattered on the edges.

However, top civic officials, Vinay Deshpande, PMC's officer on special duty
for Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission projects and additional
city engineer (roads) Vivek Kharwadkar maintained that all is well with the
tiles and the footpaths on both roads.

After the conversion of both arterial roads into one-ways over a year ago,
the Pune Municipal Corporation got down to work on providing proper
footpaths recently. Work on laying the tiles began two months ago and is
still in progress.

Citizens' groups are already miffed about the one-ways that were enforced
without completing the footpaths, pedestrian crossings and refuges.
Pedestrians <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/search?q=Pedestrians> had
expected that what took so long to make would be of some quality and offer
safety. However, there are mounting complaints.

Tripping and skidding top the list of problems. "The FC road footpaths have
become as dangerous as the roads. They have been fit with regular tiles, not
anti-skid ones. Moreover, they are light-coloured and given the amount of
footfalls, they are bound to be dirty forever," said a senior citizen.

"When compared to the inter-locking blocks, these tiles are slippery. One
has to walk cautiously and a feeling that one may skid anytime is always
there," said Pravin Nimkar, a first-year student of hotel management, who
uses the footpath<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/search?q=footpath>
on
Fergusson College Road frequently.

"The glossy tiles on the footpaths are a waste of money. They are likely to
get dislodged soon. The inter-locking blocks were more pedestrian friendly,"
said Raj Kashid, a third-year student of Fergusson College.

Travel consultant Prasad Rajwade said that the tiles looked good but were
down on utility. "One has to tread cautiously," he said. Kiran Bhalerao, a
post-graduate student at Fergusson College, said the true test would be when
it rained. "These glossy tiles are going to be dangerously slippery when it
rains," she added.

Others like Preeti and Nitish Panicker found no fault with the tiles. "They
have given the footpath a better look. The gaps between tiles provide the
grip. They are not slippery," they said.

Citizens' groups like Pedestrians First have taken up the matter with
municipal commissioner Mahesh Zagade. Prashant Inamdar of the organisation
has written that the tiles' surface does not have adequate anti-skid
properties and senior citizens could slip over them. Rains could worsen the
situation, he said.

"It is not clear why the tiles are getting dislodged and are damaged on such
a large scale. The thickness of the tile is about 10 mm, which appears to be
inadequate for proper fixing. The tiles appear to be suited more for indoor
or restricted outdoor use, rather than for heavy use on a footpath. Since
the tiles are aesthetically appealing and easily removable, they can be
pilfered," he said.

The very task of laying the tiles was cumbersome, Inamdar added. "The tile
is small which makes the process time-consuming. It requires quality
workmanship which is not always available. Although the PMC's motive to make
the footpaths look good is commendable, there are flaws," he said.

But an unfazed civic body maintained that the tiles were anti-skid ones.
Deshpande said that similar tiles were being used in other cities, adding
that it was a conscious decision to use these tiles instead of interlocking
blocks.

"The tiles are of good anti-skid quality and no fungus will grow even if
there is water absorption below the tiles. We have noticed that some
anti-social elements have broken the tiles deliberately. A police complaint
has been filed. At one place, we found that a restaurant owner had thrown
soapy water to clean them and they had become slippery. We have directed him
to desist from such acts," Deshpande added.

Kharwadkar said there were no complaints about the tiles used on the
footpath on J M road.