Footpath- quite pedestrian
I grew up in a Govt. colony in Mumbai. This meant that I had the luxury of a lot of things that were absent in the city outside campus. One of these was the footpath.
Right since I was a toddler, I was instructed to keep to the footpath, lest I get in the path of a ‘speeding’ Fiat (that’s an oxymoron). That might sound funny, but the inherent message was clear, steer clear of the motorist.
In a city where cars outnumber themselves everyday, it’s become a challenge to find a footpath. Most of you might have noticed this but its worth reiterating.
1. Footpaths do exist. Just that above them also exist a layer called hawkers. This layer is more permanent than pedestrian aspirations and difficult to remove.
2. Footpaths do exist. Just that above them frequently is a mosaic of human excreta, with some dog poo thrown in between. Nearby slums can’t do their bit on the highway can they and there’s nowhere else to go.
3. Footpaths do exist. Just that often the BMC or MTNL or MMRDA or such body decides to investigate what lies beneath. So what could be a footpath becomes a trap that sometimes swallows up people, leading to ‘Prince who got saved’ kind of episodes
4. Footpaths do exist. Just that when people have lots of cars parked within building compounds, the surplus comes onto the footpath. There is always just enough space for you to wriggle between wide-bodied cars and make your way through. Helps you contemplate getting fitter so that you actually can.
5. Footpaths do exist. Just that on Shivaji Jayanti or Ambedkar Jayanti or Satyanarayan Pooja, the Gods or Demi-gods just takeover. After all what’s pedestrian walking space compared to loftier causes?
6. Footpaths do exist. Just that some MMRDA civil engineer conducted an uncivil act by making them so narrow that they resemble just what they are, an apology. So if two people want to walk side by side they can, as long as one is not on the footpath
7. Footpaths do exist. Just that they also contain potted plants sitting right in the middle. An otherwise narrow space becomes narrower. All good causes need to be interwoven seems to be the mantra. So when we provide people space to walk, we should also provide them a beautiful ambience and clean air to breathe, ‘in’ that very 5ft space!
8. Footpaths don’t exist.
‘Foot’ note: Recently in Mumbai, all dividers have been barricaded to prevent jay walking. Fair enough. This means that people have to walk and cross roads at designated breaches in the dividers. These breaches seem more like rat holes, which can hold just about 3 people standing side by side. The rest spillover to the road, exposing them to traffic. Moreover where’s the foothpath that people can actually walk on, given this scenario?
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2) Footpaths do exist. In areas like Nariman Point, Malabar Hill, Cuffe Parade and Mantralaya, where even the dogs have their private chauffered cars to go for their evening walks at the nearby parks.
3) Footpaths do exist. On the Marine Drive by the sea, to let strollers lose their worldly tensions in the cool breeze, unfortunately, only to gain new ones like eunuchs feeling you up, guys ogling at your better half, kids using the footpath as an open-air dustbin and of course, a few more gruesome ones like men of law finding innovative ideas of using the humble police chowki.
2) Footpaths do exist. In areas like Nariman Point, Malabar Hill, Cuffe Parade and Mantralaya, where even the dogs have their private chauffered cars to go for their evening walks at the nearby parks.
3) Footpaths do exist. On the Marine Drive by the sea, to let strollers lose their worldly tensions in the cool breeze, unfortunately, only to gain new ones like eunuchs feeling you up, guys ogling at your better half, kids using the footpath as an open-air dustbin and of course, a few more gruesome ones like men of law finding innovative ideas of using the humble police chowki.
2) Footpaths do exist. In areas like Nariman Point, Malabar Hill, Cuffe Parade and Mantralaya, where even the dogs have their private chauffered cars to go for their evening walks at the nearby parks.
3) Footpaths do exist. On the Marine Drive by the sea, to let strollers lose their worldly tensions in the cool breeze, unfortunately, only to gain new ones like eunuchs feeling you up, guys ogling at your better half, kids using the footpath as an open-air dustbin and of course, a few more gruesome ones like men of law finding innovative ideas of using the humble police chowki.
Anyway, footpaths where they exist like near VT are also places for the fishmongers to rest with their wares; though it still leaves the walking junta with some space, the prospect of being sprinkled with scented fish water drives most of them away.
Oh and the footpaths near colaba causeway, where the hawkers reign and wlaking seems like march past in school, single file; no talking with your compatriots.
Ha..such is life in Mumbai...
Bips, are we glad that we have atleast dingle file of Colaba Real Estate towalk on, imagine what it costs!
:)