Bengaluru: The Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) has booked nearly 83,000 vehicle owners for parking on footpaths and obstructing pedestrians, and another 14,700 for driving on footpaths.
Despite strict enforcement, 203 pedestrians have lost their lives in accidents in the city till November this year.
The data highlights the poor condition of footpaths and civic infrastructure such as skywalks and pedestrian underpasses.
The figures were presented in the Legislative Assembly session, where BJP MLA S Suresh Kumar raised concerns over pedestrian safety.
A senior official said efforts to prevent such deaths include booking those driving or parking on footpaths, but many fatalities occur while people are crossing roads.
"We have flagged the need for more skywalks to prevent pedestrians from crossing busy roads,” a senior BTP official said. The official said the BTP is working with the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) to install high-rise medians at busy roads to deter unsafe crossings.
In a written reply, Home Minister G Parameshwara said the BTP has requested the GBA for 101 more skywalks, 363 zebra crossings, 45 pelican signals and 112 grill barricades on medians.
Pedestrians said most footpaths are encroached upon or broken, forcing them onto the road.
Senior GBA officials said efforts to clear encroachments are ongoing.
“Many street vendors return to the footpaths, making prevention difficult. We are keeping a constant watch on encroachers and have directed officials to regularly check and repair footpaths,” a senior official from the Bengaluru South City Corporation said.
Sources in the GBA said the BTP proposals are under review.
Data shows 3,985 accidents reported till October end, with 715 deaths and 2,087 people seriously injured.
Lives lost
Till October 31
• Accidents: 3,985
• Deaths: 715
• Seriously injured: 2,087
• Pedestrian deaths: 203
Whole of 2024
• Accidents: 4,769
• Deaths: 894
• Seriously injured: 2,841
• Pedestrian deaths: 246