In Mumbai, Pedestrians Protest Lack Of Sidewalks

"Pedestrians of Mumbai are being asked to join a new campaign to demand their right to walk freely on pavements meant only for them.

The pedestrian "satyagraha" or civil disobedience is finding support from people fed up with cluttered pavements or dangerous roads that do not have sidewalks.

"This is the eighth such agitation that we will be holding this afternoon, this time in IC Colony in Borivili," says Krishnaraj Rao, co-founder and spokesperson of Sahasi Padyatri (brave pedestrian), an organisation that is attracting several volunteers.

Their latest attempt is to get the authorities sit up and take notice. "So, our people will be painting the middle of the road to tell the traffic police that this is pedestrian territory and this is where we want to walk, free from illegal structures, vehicles, hawkers or encroachments," says Rao."