Hyderabad Doctor’s Road Safety Initiative Proposes Pedestrian-Friendly Infrastructure
Hyderabad, Sept 29 (TNT): A near-fatal encounter with an RTC bus while cycling in Erragadda in 1996–97 prompted medical practitioner Dr Garuda Somanna to study traffic and road safety issues, leading to a series of proposals aimed at improving pedestrian safety and traffic movement in Hyderabad.
Dr Somanna, who has completed around 40 years of public service through private medical practice, said the incident inspired him to undertake an in-depth study of road safety and traffic-related problems.
Over the years, he has developed articles, projects and video presentations addressing road accidents, pedestrian safety and traffic congestion.
Under his initiative, Indian National Busways, he is releasing a series of short video episodes accompanied by proposals and supporting documents.
The first, titled Episode 1.1 — Pedestrian Safety, focuses on improving pedestrian infrastructure on Hyderabad’s arterial roads.
The proposal, submitted to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation’s Town Planning Wing and Hyderabad Traffic Police for consideration, envisages continuous and unobstructed footpaths, protected pedestrian pathways, safer road crossings and designated commercial spaces for street vendors.
It also proposes Commercial Pedestrian Foot Overbridges at approximately 500-metre intervals, subject to traffic studies and site suitability.
The structures would include lifts, public washrooms, vendor stalls and commuter lounges to improve convenience for pedestrians.
The proposal further suggests installing advertising barricades along footpaths to separate pedestrians from moving traffic, while generating revenue to support infrastructure maintenance. Solar-panel roofing over footpaths and footbridges is also proposed to provide protection from sun and rain and generate electricity.
To address the concerns of street vendors, the concept recommends organised commercial spaces instead of their displacement from pedestrian pathways.
Dedicated service bays for authorised delivery vehicles and municipal waste collection are also proposed to minimise interference with pedestrian movement and regular traffic.
Dr Somanna has appealed to the public and those with wider outreach to review the video presentation and accompanying proposal and help bring the ideas to the attention of the concerned authorities.
The proposal is subject to technical, traffic, structural and financial assessments, statutory approvals and evaluation by the competent authorities before any implementation.
TNT TS
