North Corporation conducts ‘street-view videography’ to know footpath conditions; float tenders for maintenance

The North Corporation, which had earmarked ₹935 crore in its maiden budget for a major road and footpath upgrade plan, including the development of 1,000 km of footpaths, asphalting works and white-topping of key arterial roads, has completed ‘street-view videography’ of footpaths across its jurisdiction to map their current condition and identify missing links.

Tenders for maintenance work have also been awarded, with the corporation planning to spend ₹2 lakh or more per km to repair existing footpaths by removing obstructions and constructing missing links.

“New footpaths will also be developed, with priority being given to stretches around metro stations, bus stands and underpasses to improve last-mile walkability,” North Corporation Commissioner Pommala Sunil Kumar told The Hindu. 

Mr. Kumar said the increased focus on footpaths in this year’s budget came after the corporation assessed the poor state of walkability across its limits. 

The street-view videography was done currently in key areas to help the corporation identify damaged footpaths, encroachments and missing links, he said, adding that the work would be carried out in phases, with priority being given to high-footfall areas. 

The Commissioner said the findings emerged during the Walkaluru mission, an initiative aimed at identifying and walking across 100 km of usable footpaths in Bengaluru. Of this, nearly 50 km was covered within the North Corporation limits, giving officials a clearer understanding of ground-level conditions. 

“There is a huge demand for better footpaths, but we found that none of them were free of obstructions. Everywhere there were issues. Electric poles, transformers, encroachments or damage caused by vehicles riding over footpaths. That is why we prioritised this in the budget. The tenders for maintenance have already been awarded,” Mr. Kumar said. 

Under the plan, new footpaths will be constructed wherever necessary, while existing ones will be repaired and upgraded. Alongside this, the corporation will also take up road development works, including asphalting and white-topping of major arterial roads.