Supreme Court Mandates Nationwide Footpath Audits and Safety Rules to Address Rising Pedestrian Deaths in India

Why in News

The Supreme Court of India, in a significant judgment on October 7, 2025, issued comprehensive directives to enhance pedestrian safety, including mandatory audits of footpaths in major cities and the creation of online grievance portals, in response to the sharp rise in road accident fatalities where pedestrians account for over 20 percent of deaths as per the latest Ministry of Road Transport and Highways report.

Key Points

1. The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan, directed all states, Union Territories, municipal authorities, and the National Highways Authority of India to ensure the construction and maintenance of safe, encroachment-free footpaths along roads.
2. In 2023, India recorded a total of 172,890 road accident deaths, with 35,221 involving pedestrians, representing over 20 percent of fatalities, which has doubled from 10.44 percent in 2016 to 20.4 percent in 2023 according to the MoRTH report.
3. Over 54,000 two-wheeler riders and passengers died in 2023 due to not wearing helmets, prompting the court to order strict enforcement of helmet rules using e-challans and surveillance cameras.
4. The court mandated audits of existing footpaths in the top 50 cities with million-plus populations, focusing on high-traffic areas like markets, railway stations, and locations with recent pedestrian accidents to check for proper width, height, and surface quality.
5. States and Union Territories are required to formulate and notify rules under Section 138(1A) of the Motor Vehicles Act within six months to regulate non-mechanically propelled vehicles like cycles and pedestrians on public places and national highways.
6. Similarly, rules under Section 210-D of the Motor Vehicles Act must be notified within six months for the design, construction, and maintenance of footpaths on roads other than national highways.
7. The court endorsed the Indian Roads Congress guidelines for pedestrian safety (IRC 103-2022), which specify features like minimum footpath widths of 1.8 meters, anti-skid surfaces, tactile paving for the visually impaired, and ramps for wheelchair access.
8. An online grievance redressal mechanism must be established by municipal authorities, state governments, and NHAI for citizens to report issues related to damaged or encroached footpaths, with prompt action required.
9. The court also directed enforcement against wrong-lane driving, unauthorized use of high-beam or dazzling headlights, and police-like beacon lights on vehicles to improve overall road safety.
10. The petition leading to this order was filed in 2012 by Dr. S Rajaseekaran, an orthopedic surgeon, highlighting the loss of lives due to poor road design and lack of pedestrian facilities.

Explained

What is the Supreme Court's recent order on pedestrian safety and why was it issued?

Background of the Case: The order stems from a public interest litigation filed in 2012 by Dr. S Rajaseekaran, an orthopedic surgeon, who pointed out the high number of preventable deaths and injuries from road accidents due to inadequate infrastructure and enforcement.

Key Directives Issued: The court instructed states and Union Territories to create rules under the Motor Vehicles Act for safe footpaths and pedestrian movement, and to set up online portals for complaints about encroachments or poor maintenance.

Statistical Context: With pedestrian deaths rising to 35,221 in 2023, the court emphasized the need for urgent action to protect vulnerable road users, who make up one of the largest groups affected by accidents.

What are the main causes of rising pedestrian deaths in India?

Road Accident Trends: According to the MoRTH 2023 report, total accidents increased by 12 percent from 2022, with pedestrians often hit by vehicles due to missing footpaths, encroachments by vendors or parked cars, and poor urban planning.

Vulnerable Cities Identified: Cities like Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Bhopal, Lucknow, Kolkata, Varanasi, and Visakhapatnam reported 4,604 pedestrian deaths in 2023, highlighting urban hotspots where traffic volume is high but safety features are lacking.

Contributing Factors: Issues like non-use of helmets (leading to 54,000 two-wheeler deaths), wrong-lane driving, and dazzling vehicle lights contribute to accidents, as they distract or endanger pedestrians crossing roads.

What is the Motor Vehicles Act and how does it relate to pedestrian safety?

Overview of the Act: The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, amended in 2019, is the primary law governing road transport, vehicle registration, and safety standards in India, aiming to reduce accidents through rules on driving, vehicle maintenance, and infrastructure.

Relevant Sections: Section 138(1A) allows states to make rules for regulating non-motorized vehicles and pedestrians on highways, while Section 210-D focuses on footpath design, construction, and upkeep to ensure safe walking spaces.

Implementation Requirements: The court has given a six-month deadline for notifying these rules, ensuring uniformity in safety standards across states to prevent accidents caused by poor road design.

What are the Indian Roads Congress (IRC) guidelines for pedestrian safety?

Purpose of IRC Guidelines: The IRC, established in 1934, develops standards for road construction in India; the 2022 guidelines (IRC 103-2022) specifically address pedestrian facilities to make roads inclusive for all users, including the elderly and disabled.

Key Features Outlined: These include minimum footpath widths of 1.8 to 2.5 meters depending on traffic, anti-skid surfaces to prevent slips, tactile pavers for visually impaired people, and ramps at crossings for wheelchairs.

Endorsement by Court: The Supreme Court has made these guidelines mandatory, directing authorities to align footpath audits and maintenance with them to reduce pedestrian vulnerabilities.

What is a footpath audit and how will it be conducted?

Definition and Process: A footpath audit involves inspecting walking paths for safety, accessibility, and condition, checking elements like width, height from road level, surface quality, and freedom from obstacles.

Scope in the Order: Audits must start in top 50 million-plus cities, prioritizing areas with high pedestrian traffic or recent accidents, with reports submitted to authorities for quick repairs.

Expected Outcomes: This will help identify and fix issues like uneven surfaces or encroachments, potentially lowering the 20 percent pedestrian fatality rate by improving urban mobility.

What role do online grievance portals play in this initiative?

Mechanism Explained: These portals allow citizens to report problems like damaged footpaths or encroachments via websites or apps, ensuring quick responses from municipal bodies or NHAI.

Integration with Enforcement: Linked to e-challan systems, they will help monitor compliance with safety rules, such as helmet usage and lane discipline, using CCTV evidence.

Broader Impact: By involving the public, these portals promote accountability and could reduce accidents, similar to how grievance systems have improved in other sectors like consumer rights.

What is the broader context of road safety in India?

National Road Safety Scenario: India accounts for about 10 percent of global road deaths, with over 4.6 lakh accidents in 2023, driven by rapid urbanization, increasing vehicles, and weak enforcement of laws.

Government Initiatives: Programs like the National Road Safety Policy (2010) and the Brasilia Declaration (2015) aim for a 50 percent reduction in deaths by 2030, but implementation gaps persist.

Judicial Interventions: The Supreme Court has historically stepped in, such as in the 2014 order for a road safety committee, to push for better governance in this area.

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