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21 July 2026

Urban planning and pedestrian rights

The topic features a landmark Supreme Court ruling establishing a new fundamental right and cites critical national data on urban infrastructure and public health, making it highly relevant for GS2 and GS1 mains questions.

2 min read Day 3 of 5 2 questions 2 prelims

Notes

  • Supreme Court ruling in Maniyar Iliyaz @ Shaik Riyaz vs P. Ayyappan (2026) declared walking on demarcated footpaths a fundamental constitutional right under Article 19(1)(d) and Article 21.
  • WHO India Physical Activity Profile 2024: 49.4% of Indian adults, 57.2% of women, and 74% of children/adolescents (11-17) do not meet recommended physical activity levels.
  • Road safety data: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (2024) reports pedestrians and two-wheeler riders account for nearly 67% of road fatalities (1.28 lakh deaths).
  • NCRB 2024 data indicates pedestrians and two-wheeler riders represent at least 60% of road fatalities (1.1 lakh deaths).
  • Urban planning failure: Lack of safe, continuous, and barrier-free footpaths contributes to sedentary lifestyles and metabolic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and obesity.
  • Policy recommendation: Shift from episodic anti-encroachment drives to planned allocation of street space (footpaths, vending zones, utility corridors, and parking).
  • Proposed governance measures: National active-mobility mission, ward-level footpath audits, traffic calming in school zones, and prioritizing pedestrian infrastructure in all road projects.

Part of a longer story

This is day 3 of 5 in Supreme Court ruling and implementation of footpath rights in Bengaluru, which has been running since 22 June 2026. Reading it whole is usually worth more than reading today alone — the exam asks how something developed.

Questions

  1. The Supreme Court has recently elevated the right to walk on footpaths to a fundamental right. Discuss the constitutional significance of this development in the context of urban governance and public health in India. 150 words
    Attempt this — 150 words in 8 min
    0 / 150 words 8:00
  2. Urban planning in India has historically prioritized vehicular movement over pedestrian safety, leading to significant public health and road safety challenges. Critically analyze the need for a paradigm shift toward 'people-centric' urban design and the role of institutional policy in achieving this. 250 words
    Attempt this — 250 words in 11 min
    0 / 250 words 11:00

Prelims

  1. According to the Supreme Court ruling in Maniyar Iliyaz @ Shaik Riyaz vs P. Ayyappan (2026), the right to walk on demarcated footpaths is protected under which articles of the Indian Constitution?

  2. Which of the following reports provides data on the physical activity levels of the Indian population, highlighting that a significant percentage of adults do not meet recommended activity levels?

Syllabus

Topics

Sources

250words.in · https://250words.in/daily/2026-07-21/urban-planning-and-pedestrian-rights