The accident at Hebbal junction that took the life of a 14-year-old student has not only underscored the importance of pedestrian facilities, but also their accessibility.
There are many pedestrian underpasses and skywalks that have been constructed by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) across the city. But for a few, many of these facilities remain either under-utilised or largely unused, as citizens seem to prefer at-grade crossing.
Statistics over the past three years show that a total number of 598 pedestrians have been killed in and around the city - 278 pedestrians were killed in 2019, 164 in 2020 and 161 in 2021. Though the number of deaths have slightly reduced, the death rates could further be contained if traffic rules are followed.
