Bengaluru, Karnataka – Yogeesh Prabhuswamy, a local tech enthusiast, has ignited widespread concern on social media with his compelling videos showcasing the deteriorating condition of Bengaluru’s footpaths. Describing pedestrian navigation in the city as “an extreme sport,” Prabhuswamy’s posts have resonated with countless residents frustrated by unsafe and poorly maintained sidewalks.
Prabhuswamy shared two alarming videos on platform X, highlighting crumbling pavements, drains overflowing with rainwater, and roads cluttered with debris. In one of the clips, commuters are seen precariously balancing on rainwater-filled drains while waiting for buses, prompting Prabhuswamy to abandon his attempt to board a vehicle due to the imminent safety hazards. “Walking in Bengaluru is an extreme sport. Need the skill to balance on tiny concrete strips and to jump from footpath to road! No, I didn’t dare take this bus! Just one slip and a lifetime injury – that’s how pedestrians are treated in the so-called ‘Infra Era,'” he captioned the videos.
The impactful footage has quickly gone viral, sparking a robust dialogue about pedestrian safety and the city’s apparent neglect of essential infrastructure. Many Bengaluru residents echoed Prabhuswamy’s frustrations, sharing their own experiences with the city’s uneven and perilous footpaths.
One user commented, “Even more shameful for BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) is that these have been built just now, not old crumbling infrastructure. Even new development is being done in such a shoddy way that there’s no hope. And this is the case all over. Whitefield is covered with this wherever they’ve built these footpaths. And even this took several months to cover just 400 metres.”
Another added, “Pedestrians are lowest in the hierarchy on the roads. We do not have good roads, we have worse or non-existent footpaths, projects that are started (Ejipura flyover, Bellandur Lake bridge) are left incomplete.”
A third resident stated, “Bengaluru’s footpaths are the most irregular. They’re often blocked by construction materials, forcing pedestrians onto the road, constantly looking out for speeding vehicles.”
A fourth commenter voiced frustration over the inconsistent and unsafe footpath conditions, saying, “True footpaths are dangerous to pedestrians and in some places I have noticed 2-foot wide footpaths. How can anyone walk safely beside haphazard tiling, some places step footpaths, some places the stone slabs were broken. How can anyone walk safely? Funds allocated are going where to??”
Prabhuswamy’s initiative has not only shed light on the urgent need for infrastructure improvements but also mobilized community members to demand better maintenance and safety measures for pedestrians. As the conversation gains momentum, city officials face increasing pressure to address these critical issues and ensure safer pathways for Bengaluru’s residents.
