The median dividers and pavements in Salt Lake are getting raised to a considerable height. The authorities say the move is meant to reduce jaywalking but pedestrians claim it has made it difficult for them to even climb up pavements. 

The old paver blocks on Salt Lake footpaths are now being replaced by concrete ones that are higher than the old ones by at least six inches. The new slabs, getting painted blue and white, are almost two feet high.  

“The blocks literally pose a steep challenge to us residents,” said Sudip Sarkar, a resident of IA Block, referring to the Broadway road divider opposite EZCC. 

“Not only are they very high but the median dividers have no cut-outs for pedestrians to cut through and cross the main road. How far will they make the elderly walk to hail a taxi or board a bus?"

“I have to walk all the way from Bijan Bhavan Island to GD Island if I want to avoid crossing over,” complained an HA Block resident.

Near GD, HB and GC blocks the pavements have been made a foot higher than they used to be. “Pavements should be such that pedestrians can get on and off without much effort. In the West, they are designed so that people have zero chances of tripping and falling because of their height. But here they have made mountains out of pavements,” said Soma Chakraborty, a resident of HB Block.

Drivers are complaining too. “I had parked my sedan against a pavement a few days ago in CF Block but when I opened the door to get off it grazed against the high pavement and got scratched,” said Vinod Agarwal, a resident of BF Block.

But the corporation and police officers say it is all for a greater good. “The dividers’ heights are indeed very high now. It is being done to prevent people from crossing them at will and increasing the risk of accidents,” said a corporation official. “It would also ensure vehicles cannot force their way over low dividers and cause damage to property and cause accidents.” 
Police officers too said from experience that high pavements and median dividers reduce accident rates.

Are you happy with the new median dividers? 
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