Chandigarh: The engineering wing of the municipal corporation (MC), Chandigarh, Thursday began work on installing iron pipe railings along footpaths in Sectors 45 and 46 to improve pedestrian safety and curb encroachments by parked vehicles.The civic body has sanctioned nearly Rs 30 lakh for the project, which will cover V-4 and V-5 roads, the Sector 46 market area and other key locations in the ward.Laying the foundation stone for the work, area councillor Gurpreet Singh said the railings would help create dedicated space for pedestrians while ensuring more organised parking.“At many places, vehicles are being parked illegally on footpaths, leaving little room for pedestrians. People are often forced to walk on roads, compromising their safety,” he said.As part of the plan, around six feet of footpath space will be reserved exclusively for pedestrians. The remaining area will be used to facilitate systematic vehicle parking, providing a long-term solution to the problem of haphazard parking.Residents and shopkeepers of Sector 46 welcomed the initiative, saying it would help address the long-standing issues of indiscriminate parking and inadequate space for pedestrians.The project is aimed at improving walkability and ensuring safer movement for pedestrians in one of the city’s busy residential and commercial pockets.
