MP Capt Brijesh Chowta Demands ‘Walkability Audit’ for Mangaluru Following Supreme Court Verdict

By Editor

Posted on June 20, 2026

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MP Capt Brijesh Chowta Demands 'Walkability Audit' for Mangaluru Following Supreme Court Verdict

Mangaluru : In a proactive move to ensure pedestrian safety and hassle-free movement, Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta has written a formal letter to the newly appointed Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, urging the government to prioritize pedestrian infrastructure in the upcoming Master Plan for Mangaluru. Citing a landmark judgment by the Supreme Court of India regarding pedestrian rights, the Member of Parliament has also forwarded copies of his official communication to the Minister for Urban Development, the Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada, and the Commissioner of the Mangaluru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).

The Supreme Court, in its historic verdict, recognized that walking on safe and well-maintained footpaths is a fundamental right of every citizen, shifting the core responsibility of providing and maintaining this vital infrastructure onto local civic bodies and urban planning authorities. Grounded in this legal framework, Capt Chowta pointed out that the upcoming Master Plan will serve as a roadmap for Mangaluru’s development for decades to come, making it the perfect opportunity to emphasize pedestrian-friendly infrastructure. He highlighted that a significant portion of the city’s population—including school and college students, senior citizens, daily commuters, and laborers—relies entirely on walking for their everyday commute. As the coastal city expands and vehicular traffic surges, the necessity for robust and secure footpaths has become more urgent than ever.

Advocating for a “Comprehensive Pedestrian Transit System” in Mangaluru, Capt Chowta outlined several essential recommendations to be integrated into the urban layout. His proposals include building obstacle-free, continuous footpaths, establishing safe pedestrian crossings near highly crowded zones like educational institutions, hospitals, public markets, and major transit hubs, and implementing disabled-friendly infrastructure. Furthermore, he emphasized the critical need for integrating pedestrian pathways smoothly with public transportation and enforcing strict measures to eliminate unauthorized vehicle parking and illegal encroachments on existing footpaths.

Significantly, the MP has strongly urged the state government to conduct a thorough ‘Pedestrian Infrastructure and Walkability Audit’ across Mangaluru before giving final approval to the Master Plan. Such a scientific assessment would successfully identify current structural gaps and safety hazards, allowing urban planners to incorporate timely remedial designs. Drawing from his personal experiences of growing up and studying in Mangaluru, Capt Chowta expressed that he intimately understands the ground-level challenges faced by walkers and offered to closely cooperate with the district administration, MUDA, and other department officials to formulate effective solutions.

Concluding his appeal, Capt Brijesh Chowta noted that Mangaluru has historically evolved as an organized and pedestrian-friendly city. As it rapidly scales up into a major urban commercial hub, retaining and reinforcing this unique, walkable character is vital. He asserted that focusing heavily on pedestrian safety will not only reduce road accidents but also substantially boost public health, ensure environmental sustainability, and elevate the overall quality of life for the residents of the coastal city.