Bhubaneswar, Dec. 3: Police and several agencies have geared up to make it easier and safer for pedestrians to cross roads at major squares as a part of the smart city plan.
The smart city project puts emphasis on, among other things, non-motorised transport and pedestrians.
A process has already begun to draw clear and continuous zebra crossing lines at major junctions such as Power House Square, 120 Battalion, Ram Mandir Square and Maharishi College Square.
Chief engineer (roads) BC Pradhan said, "The city will have better walkways and cycle tracks as part of the smart city programme. For this, we have begun the basic work at major junctions with an aim to make moving easier for pedestrians. We also plan to make walkways and cycle tracks common features in all parts of the city."
Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) has already engaged a consultant to ensure that walkways and cycle tracks are set up across the city. Works department will also extend its help with special focus on non-motorised transport.
BDA vice-chairman Krishan Kumar said: "We are going to introduce 'rahagiri' from the third week of this month by making certain streets free of vehicles for five to six hours. We hope this will prompt people to think about non-motorised mode of transport and develop the habit of walking and cycling."
Traffic inspector Surendra Kumar Bal said: "Public works department is redesigning the walkways and cycle tracks. We offer our help whenever they seek it. The city will have more pedestrian-friendly roads and traffic intersections as part of the smart city plan.''
Urban development expert Piyush Ranjan Rout, however, said that even though there was a grand plan to have walk ways and cycle tracks, there was hardly any co-ordination among traffic police, PWD and the civic body to ensure the rights of the pedestrians.
"The plan to draw clear and continuous zebra lines is a good initiative by PWD to help pedestrians to cross junctions,'' he said.
The civic body had also sought grants under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (Amrut) for construction of foot overbridges to help pedestrians.
