Supreme Court footpath ruling highlights NH-66 gaps in Uttara Kannada towns

The Supreme Court's recent declaration that safe footpaths are a fundamental right has cast a sharp light on the missing pedestrian infrastructure along National Highway 66 in Uttara Kannada district. The judgment came in a case concerning the death of a five-year-old boy, hit by a truck while walking on a footpath with his father. The court ruled that well-marked footpaths are not just civic amenities but an essential part of citizens' fundamental rights, calling for a legal framework to ensure pedestrian safety. It noted that walking safely is a basic human activity and expressed concern that urban planning often prioritises vehicles over people, including children, senior citizens, and the disabled.

These observations carry special weight for Uttara Kannada, which hosts nearly half of Karnataka's 294-kilometre stretch of NH-66. Roughly 142 km of the highway runs through the district — about 30 km in Karwar, 25 km in Ankola, 32 km in Kumta, 27 km in Honnavar, and 28 km in Bhatkal. Despite the large-scale expansion project, concerns over missing service roads and pedestrian facilities persist across many stretches. The National Highways Authority of India has not publicly set a clear benchmark for the extent of service roads and footpaths to be built alongside the highway. Available estimates show service roads exist only in limited patches — 8 to 10 km in Karwar, 6 to 8 km in Ankola, 10 to 12 km in Kumta, 6 to 8 km in Honnavar, and 10 to 15 km in Bhatkal. Large portions of the highway remain without these facilities, forcing residents to share space with fast-moving traffic.

In Bhatkal, demands for service roads in areas like Shirali have gone unanswered for years despite repeated pleas from locals. Several communities along the highway continue to seek safer access roads, arguing that the expansion has increased vehicle speeds without addressing local mobility needs. Residents have also flagged incomplete works, including underpasses at Kaikini Basti and Mood Bhatkal. A long-standing demand for an underpass connecting Kidwai Road with Bhatkal railway station — where hundreds of pedestrians cross the highway daily — also remains unresolved. These unfinished projects force pedestrians and motorists to take risky routes across busy traffic lanes. Residents acknowledge that NH-66 has improved regional connectivity and vehicle movement, but say the benefits have not been matched by adequate safeguards for those living along the corridor.

📰 Source: Sahil Online