DNA: Let’s walk the talk for footpaths: March 04, 2008

Let’s walk the talk for footpaths

Two activists are galvanising Mumbai’s citizens to stake claim on walking space…..Sandeep Ashar

You have succeeded in salvaging at least some of the city’s open spaces. Now, it’s time to clamour for your walking space – the footpaths.
An unlikely pair — a journalist and a bookseller-cum-part-time scriptwriter — has taken the rail route to garner support for the road cause. Krishnaraj Rao, a journalist and member of the Global warming committee of the Indian Merchants Chamber, and Santosh Jangam, who sells books on train for a living, are out to make the city pedestrian-friendly.
Their group, Sahasi Padyatri (Brave Pedestrian), has chosen the city’s ‘lifeline’ to reach out to the citizens. They pick one train a day, and go from one compartment to another, urging commuters to rise in unison in demand of walking space.
Rao told DNA, “We are seeking dedicated pedestrian lanes, each 6-ft wide, on either side of every road in the city. There should be no parking and hawking one these lanes, but in emergencies ambulance and fire brigade can use those.
“Encroachers, rampant irregular parking and debris dumped by the roadside have left to place for pedestrians. They are forced to walk along roads clogged with vehicles, and often this has led to accidents.”
The duo has been bombarding six authorities – chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, home minister RR Patil, mayor Shubha Raul, municipal commissioner Jairaj Phatak, joint commissioner (traffic) Vijay Kamble and minister of state for urban development Rajesh Tope – with letters signed by train commuters on a daily basis since February 16.
The letters are sold on train at Rs 10 each. Whoever buys one, will have it sent in his name to the authorities. Jangam said, “We want to convey that the situation has come to such a pass that citizens are being forced to spend money for something that is rightfully theirs. Of the Rs10 collected for each letter, Rs5 is for stamp and Re1 for xerox. The remaining Rs4 (per letter) is kept in store for funding other miscellaneous expenses.”
Rao added that those unwilling to spend money could sign a general letter, which too was sent to the authorities. Going by the response in the first two weeks, the campaign has certainly begun on a sound note. “We have so far sent 150 letters and 400 signatures to the authorities,” he said.
Inspired by the duo, seven mass media students from VIVA college, Virar, have joined the campaign. Apart from helping them in spreading the message, the students have decided to shoot a documentary on the problems faced by pedestrians. Rohan Massey said, “We plan to take this message to other colleges too.”

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