Hyderabad Gets Strict Orders on Encroached Walkways

Hyderabad’s deteriorating pedestrian infrastructure has come under sharp judicial scrutiny, with the Telangana High Court directing multiple civic and policing agencies to intensify action against pavement encroachments and unchecked roadside parking across the metropolitan region. The intervention comes amid growing concern that walkable public spaces in the city have been shrinking rapidly, undermining both mobility safety and the broader sustainability goals of a dense urban centre.

The case was brought forward by three senior citizens who highlighted how the disappearance of functional pavements has forced pedestrians—including the elderly and those relying on public transport—to navigate through mixed traffic on high-speed corridors. Their petition underscored that the absence of safe walking infrastructure has turned routine urban movement into a daily hazard, reflecting systemic failures in enforcement and planning. During recent proceedings, officials informed the court that special enforcement drives were underway, carried out jointly by municipal authorities and the traffic police. However, the bench noted that on-ground conditions continued to demonstrate widespread non-compliance, with both temporary and permanent encroachments still occupying significant stretches of public right-of-way. A municipal officer familiar with the operations acknowledged that clearing pavements remains challenging without sustained monitoring and coordinated institutional oversight.

Urban mobility researchers point out that Hyderabad’s streets have seen increasing pressure from informal vendors, private construction spillovers and the surge in two-wheeler and car ownership. These overlapping demands have squeezed pedestrian space even in residential neighbourhoods, where cars routinely occupy entire footpaths and portions of carriageways. Experts argue that such patterns reflect deeper structural issues—weak zoning enforcement, inadequate parking regulation, and the absence of a citywide pedestrianisation strategy. The court also observed that street space inequality disproportionately impacts vulnerable groups, including women, children and persons with disabilities. According to planners, the degradation of pavements also weakens the city’s public transport ecosystem, as last-mile access becomes unsafe and unreliable. This often results in commuters opting for private vehicles, further intensifying congestion and emissions.

In its directive, the bench emphasised the state’s responsibility to maintain public infrastructure and ensure that pedestrian rights are not overridden by private use of common spaces. It asked authorities to file a comprehensive status report and outline immediate interventions—such as continuous monitoring, structural barriers to prevent re-encroachment and repairs of damaged walkways. With Hyderabad pushing forward on major mobility and infrastructure projects, the ruling highlights the need for equally strong investment in the basics: safe, accessible, and continuous footpaths. As the city grows, the challenge will be to convert judicial directives into sustained urban policy that places pedestrians at the centre of mobility planning.

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Hyderabad Gets Strict Orders on Encroached Walkways