Supreme Court Flags Lack Of Pedestrian Crossing Near Delhi High Court; Orders Nationwide Survey To Identify Road Crossing Needs

The Supreme Court on Monday (October 7) expressed concern over the absence of a pedestrian crossing near the Delhi High Court and the National Zoological Garden on Mathura Road, Delhi, terming it a serious safety lapse that endangers thousands of people who cross the busy stretch every day without traffic signals, foot overbridges, or other safety measures.

A Bench of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice K.V. Viswanathan directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and other road-owning agencies to prepare an action plan and conduct a phase-wise survey across major Indian cities to identify locations where additional pedestrian crossings are required.

“One can give the example of the road crossing at the Delhi High Court and the National Zoological Garden on Mathura Road where every day thousands of employees, litigants, lawyers, children, and families cross the road, without any red light or foot overbridge or any traffic calming measure, putting their lives at risk,” the Court observed.

The issue was brought to the Court's attention by Senior Advocate and Amicus Curiae Gaurav Agarwal, who highlighted the lack of basic pedestrian infrastructure at the Mathura Road crossing, which witnesses heavy foot traffic from court visitors and the public.

Hearing a 2012 public interest petition filed by orthopaedic surgeon Dr. S. Rajaseekaran on road safety reforms, the Court directed that in the next one year, at least 20 percent of roads in the 50 cities listed in the Road Accidents Report, 2023, should be surveyed to assess the need for pedestrian crossings.

“We, therefore, direct the road owning agencies in the 50 cities mentioned in Annexure 46 of the Report on Road Accidents, 2023 and the NHAI to draw up an action plan and start phase-wise survey to assess the requirement of additional pedestrian crossing facilities. The NHAI/road owning agencies can begin with crowded streets and where there is recorded data on accidents.

We would expect that over the next 1 year, at least 20 percent of the roads in the above cities can be taken up for survey and wherever required, pedestrian crossings can be created. Similarly, NHAI can also take up those portions of National Highways which pass through cities and villages where they may be a need for more pedestrian crossings.We direct that first priority be given to the road crossing at the Delhi High Court and the National Zoological Garden on the Mathura Road. Let the needful be done at the earliest and the work be completed within seven months from today.",” the Bench ordered.

The Court also issued a slew of directions on road safety and pedestrian crossing.