Nagpur: The Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) blueprint prepared in 2018 had proposed a citywide pedestrian network of 664km, but after over seven years, half the planned footpaths were still missing. The updated CMP approved in 2025 shows Nagpur has only 347km.The gap has widened over the last decade. In 2013, the CMP assessed that the city had around 129km of footpaths, which was 70% of the then requirement. Nearly 67% of the surveyed network was encroached. On major corridors, 39% of stretches faced heavy encroachments while the problem was moderate on 19% roads. The situation has only worsened after 13 years with no concrete solution coming from the authorities concerned.Senior officials and urban mobility experts say pedestrian infrastructure forms the foundation of urban mobility. “If people cannot safely walk to or from public transport stops, the system loses its effectiveness,” said a senior official associated with CMP.According to experts, the absence of safe footpaths discourages commuters from using public transport systems such as Metro and city buses, particularly for short trips. “If the next stretch involves walking on the road amid traffic after getting down at a Metro station or bus stop, many commuters avoid the system altogether. Reliable last-mile walking infrastructure is critical to improve ridership of Metro and buses,” the expert said.To address the shortfall, the 2025 CMP has proposed construction of footpaths along 156km of road network in Phase I. The plan recommends a minimum width of 1.8 metres and height of 150mm to make walkways usable and safe for pedestrians. The estimated cost of the project stands at around Rs131 crore.Planners say keeping footpaths free of encroachments will determine whether Nagpur’s pedestrian infrastructure finally catches up with its own mobility plans.
