Mangaluru: Footpaths and walk ways, as well as zeebra crossings in Mangaluru city pose a grave hazard for the pedestrians and specially school children, broken and displaced pavement slabs inviting danger. Two wheelers and even cars do not respect traffic left direction which is suicidal for people crossing roads. Too much and improper greenery on new road dividers is now posing grave hazards.

Several broken cement slabs can be seen along the pavements in most parts of city owing to the absence of regular maintenance and repair work. The broken slabs along the stretch have become a serious hazard for regular users and strangers.

Pedestrians in Pandeshwar, Bolar, Balmatta, Bendoorwell stretch, Jeppu-Morgans’ Gate, M G Road, KS Rao Road, Ladyhill-Mannagudde Road, PVS Circle-Bunts Hostel, near Mini Vidhana Soudha, RTO bus stops, Pumpwell have doubled with broken pavements is a hell. Near schools it’s is killing. The situation at State Bank bus stops is very bad for several years.

As the footpath is not usable, pedestrians are left to fight for space on the road itself. The situation has turned out to be a nightmare for the residents, schoolchildren and senior citizens.

“We either have to skip over the slabs of what remains as a footpath or walk on the road. Schoolchildren who walk from the Government school, from Jyothi (Ambedkar Circle) towards Bendoorwell face inconvenience as the slabs on several locations have either been broken or been removed. There is a chance of them falling into the drains. A careless step on the pavement can land pedestrians in serious trouble,” said a shopkeeper.

Even after several years of laying concrete roads, the footpaths have not been laid on several roads in the heart of the city, leave alone arterial roads.

“The authorities have not replaced damaged slabs. In a few locations, waste is being dumped into open drains from these broken slabs. Proper footpaths beside roads are the right of pedestrians. Unfortunately, the footpaths have become dangerous spots,” said a lady.

Very few roads have footpaths now, they are either damaged or encroached upon. What is smart in this city? Only speeding vehicles and two wheelers.