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Hindustan Times
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Need to make cities pedestrian friendly
Indian cities, including the national capital, are increasingly becoming uncaring of pedestrians, as this newspaper reported on Monday. Pedestrian demands are limited, but by no means insignificant when it comes to mobility planning — accessible, unobstructed, levelled and continuous walkways. Yet, India's mobility infrastructure seems to ignore such needs, apart from infrequent afterthoughts in some cities. It is perplexing why civic administrations fail to provide for walkers in India's cities. Unlike roads, highways, and expressways that now overwhelmingly cater for private vehicular traffic (funding for the roads sector has increased phenomenally over the last couple of decades), footpaths don't need large investments. Neither are they complicated civil construction work. Yet, civic agencies rarely get factors determining pedestrian friendliness — such as dimensions and accessibility — right. The less said about maintenance and upkeep, the better. Walking infrastructure is a sorry state for multiple reasons. First, pedestrian needs are easy to overlook. They don't have the heft of private-vehicle owners to influence policy. As a result, while the demand for wider roads gets political attention, well-designed walking space remains a fringe concern. Moreover, the powers that be, including those making and executing civic policies, have a clear disconnect with pedestrians, rarely having to walk anywhere. Second, a multiplicity of civic governance authorities means routine digging of footpaths and road-cutting even as no one takes ownership of repair. Third, whatever infrastructure is available is often hijacked for parking, vending, etc. The solutions are straightforward, subject to political and administrative intent. To start with, Indian Road Congress standards for pedestrian infrastructure must be adhered to strictly. Parking policies on paper must be implemented to declutter the cityscape, including footpaths. Multiple civic agencies must be brought together — Bengaluru's Tender SURE attempts this — to ensure road cutting is minimised. Walking infrastructure can't remain no one's baby any longer.
The Hindu
07-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Concerns over Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Rules permitting hoardings in violation of road safety norms
Concerns have been raised over provisions in the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Rules, 2023, which permit advertisements on medians, flyovers, barricades, and vehicles, allegedly in violation of Indian Road Congress (IRC) safety norms and earlier High Court directions. Rule 322(1) of the Rules allow hoardings and display materials to be installed on a range of public infrastructure, including flyover pillars, road medians, traffic barricades, streetlight poles, and moving vehicles fitted with digital screens. According to IRC 46:1972, advertisements are not permitted within 100 metres of road junctions (50 metres in urban areas), within 10 metres from the edge of the carriageway, or within the right-of-way of highways. Hanging banners across roads and flashing or moving-light advertisements—except for public information—are also prohibited. K. Kathirmathiyon, secretary of Coimbatore Consumer Cause, said the rule overlooks long-standing safety restrictions and judicial orders. 'Advertisements are being permitted in zones considered hazardous under IRC guidelines. These include areas near junctions, along highways, and even directly above carriageways,' he said. 'The rules must be withdrawn in their present form and redrafted in full compliance with IRC guidelines. Road safety cannot be compromised for the sake of revenue. We have urged the government to ensure that future regulations are framed with safety as the primary consideration,' he added. 'In earlier court proceedings in 2011, 2016, and 2017, the State itself acknowledged that advertisements on medians and barricades posed risks to drivers. Despite those submissions, the present rule reintroduces such practices. The High Court had also held that barricades should not be used for commercial advertisements, allowing only informative materials.' He further raised concern over the shift in licensing authority from District Collectors to urban local body officials, stating that it had resulted in reduced oversight and an increase in violations. The rules have been criticised for prioritising local body revenue over road safety, without consulting transport authorities. The Madras High Court has admitted the public interest litigation and directed officials to respond within eight weeks. Corporation officials said the matter will be looked into.
Time of India
25-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Road Ministry mandates use of precast concrete elements in non-critical areas of national highway projects
The ministry of road transport and highways has mandated the use of precast concrete elements for non-critical components of highway projects with a total civil cost of over Rs 300 crore. 'Use of precast concrete elements in built-up areas and urban municipal limits has several benefits such as reduced pollution, minimise user time delay, etc,' it said in a circular dated June 24. 'Need was felt to accelerate the use of precast concrete components to harness the benefits of precast technology in construction of national highways, expressways and other centrally sponsored road projects,' it added. This would be applicable for the new projects for which bids are received 90 days after the issue of this circular. The ministry has laid down minimum facilities, certifications protocol and quatity control as well as quality assurance for off-site manufacturing of precast concrete components and has issued a directive to ensure these are scrupulously followed to ensure quality of products. 'However, certification shall not be required for precasting being done at project site,' it said. As per the circular, Schedule 'B' or Schedule 'C' of the contract agreement for projects costing more than Rs 300 crore (civit cost) shall have the provision of mandatory use of precast concrete components (may be either factory-made or precast at project site, in contractor's own casting yard). The identified items or finished products which shall be mandatorily precast concrete includes box culverts of specified sizes, storm water drain cum footpath, chute drain with dissipation chamber, boundary wall, toe wall or fence, RCC crash barrier or RS wall friction slab, kerbs, channels and pedestrian as well as median railing. While the ministry has mandated all design, fabrication or casting and launching or installation of precast concrete components to be done as per relevant Indian Road Congress or Bureau of Indian Standards guidelines, it has allowed contractors to follow the established international guidelines till BIS guidelines are being developed.
Time of India
20-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Mizoram road density at 46.37km, below national avg: Lalduhoma
1 2 Aizawl: Mizoram chief minister Lalduhoma on Friday said the state's road density stands at just 46.37km per 100sqkm, significantly below the national average of 116km per 100sqkm, highlighting a serious infrastructure gap. While inaugurating the 233rd mid-term council meeting of the Indian Road Congress (IRC) at the auditorium of the Mizoram University in Aizawl, Lalduhoma also emphasised the crucial role of road infrastructure in Mizoram, which currently has only one airport and a single railway line. He said the demand for road connectivity is rapidly increasing across towns and villages, as communities now consider roads a developmental priority. Given the state's challenging hilly terrain and high rainfall, he proposed that national highways in Mizoram be constructed using rigid pavement technology, which despite higher initial costs, offers lower maintenance requirements and greater long-term durability. Highlighting Mizoram's international border, he also proposed that national highways in the state be treated as strategic roads, strengthening both connectivity and national security. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like USDJPY đang đi lên không? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo The chief minister expressed concern over the improper use of soil banks during highway construction, which has led to environmental degradation and agricultural loss. He also urged engineers to avoid unnecessary road curves, premature reconstructions, and poor drainage practices. Instead, he stressed the importance of straight alignment, durable construction, and proper culvert installations to ensure safety, cost-efficiency and sustainability. Union minister of state for road transport & highways and corporate affairs Harsh Malhotra lauded the CM's vision and reaffirmed the central govt's commitment to supporting infrastructure development in the region. The event was also addressed by state PWD minister Vanlalhlana, IRC president Prof Manoranjan Parida and IRC general secretary Rahul Gupta, among others.
Time of India
20-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
CSIR experts to visit Mizoram to conduct soil study for road construction: Parida
Aizawl: Indian Road Congress (IRC) president Prof Manoranjan Parida said a team of experts from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)'s Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) will visit Mizoram to conduct an on-the-spot study of the soil conditions in the state for road construction, reports HC Vanlalruata. Replying to questions from the media at a press conference held in Aizawl on Thursday evening regarding why roads in Mizoram do not last long as those in other parts of the country, Parida said a thorough study is required to find lasting solutions. He said the IRC is an organisation in which highway engineers and professionals in different fields of engineering are members and the IRC drafts Indian standards, code and manual necessary for the state-of-the-art engineering in road, bridge and building constructions.
