Mumbai’s roadways and walkways are still in bad condition, making it difficult for pedestrians to get around due to encroachments, inadequate upkeep, and continuous development. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has often promised to improve pedestrian infrastructure, but citizens are nonetheless frustrated with the state of affairs on the ground.
An X user recently asked Grok, Elon Musk’s AI tool, to describe the state of Mumbai’s walkways in order to get an AI viewpoint on the matter. The difficulties faced by city pedestrians were vividly depicted by the AI’s reaction.
Mumbai’s footpaths are still a “mixed bag” as of March 16, 2025, according to Grok. Although BMC has set out Rs 100 crore for its “Universal Footpath Policy” in the 2025–2026 budget, implementation challenges still exist. The project intends to ensure smooth communication throughout the city by making pavements accessible to people with disabilities and pedestrians. Initiatives like the installation of new walkways on 22 roads in the M East ward and the hiring of urban designers to create uniformity are positive moves.
The actual situation on the ground, however, runs counter to these initiatives. Due to illegal parking, hawker encroachment, and even debris from subway construction, many walkways are still impassable. Newly constructed walkways have been excavated in several places shortly after they were finished, either for utility work or because of encroachments.
Safety is still a major worry. According to reports, walkers are involved in about half of road accident fatalities in Mumbai, underscoring the critical need for safer walking infrastructure. Road expansion projects have caused footpaths to diminish in places like SV Road in the Western Suburbs, while temporary structures or cars frequently block pedestrian pathways in places like Matunga and Bandra.
Mumbai residents’ frustration is reflected on social media, where individuals regularly lament bad construction, a lot of digging, and lax enforcement of the law. Although BMC has implemented rules such as ‘Pedestrian First’ to provide priority to pedestrians, detractors contend that immediate attention is required to achieve genuine improvements in hawker management, parking laws, and construction quality.
Despite these challenges, there are some small victories. Encroachment-free stretches, such as those in Matunga East, offer hope that systematic planning and enforcement can lead to better pedestrian spaces. However, the broader picture suggests that Mumbai’s footpaths are at a crossroads between ambitious plans and deep-rooted infrastructural issues, as per the AI’s response.
For now, the city’s walkability remains in question, as pedestrians continue to battle encroachments, poor maintenance, and inadequate urban planning. Whether BMC’s latest promises will bring lasting change remains to be seen.
Source: The Free Press Journal
