Ahmedabad: The AMC’s decision to narrow city footpaths to curb encroachment appears to be at odds with the minimum widths specified in its own policy document. Walkways in the city currently range from 1 to 5 metres and are now set to shrink further.Standing committee chairman Kamlesh Patel has directed officials to limit footpath width “wherever possible to prevent illegal occupation,” arguing that excessive pedestrian space often facilitates misuse by hawkers rather than helping commuters.During a recent meeting, the standing committee members insisted that future designs must be “proportionate”, prioritising practical utility over paved areas built mainly for aesthetics, Patel said.However, the AMC’s own document — ‘Comprehensive Policy to address issues of Traffic, Road safety, Encroachment and Cattle Menace for Ahmedabad city’ — sets minimum obstruction-free footpath widths by road type: 2.5 metres in CBD and commercial zones, 2 metres on arterial roads, 1.8 metres on sub-arterial and collector roads, and 1.5 metres in local and residential areas. It requires every redevelopment or repair project to include a continuous, 1.5-metre, kerb- or bollard-protected footpath on both sides, running uninterrupted across driveways and bus stops. The new directive to narrow footpaths does not specify how officials will comply with the standards outlined in the document.
