ANJALI YADAV/Dehradun
Walking on Dehradun’s roads is becoming increasingly risky, with pedestrians accounting for a significant share of road accident deaths. According to data from the Uttarakhand Police, 286 road accidents were reported in 2026, resulting in 114 deaths, including 42 pedestrians. In 2025, the State recorded 265 accidents and 123 deaths, including 43 pedestrians.
The data has raised concerns over speeding, traffic violations and the lack of safe walking space on several busy roads. In a number of cases, pedestrians have been hit by speeding vehicles while walking along roads. The absence of proper footpaths on some stretches has added to the problem, forcing people to share the carriageway with moving traffic.
Footpaths that are available in some areas are also often occupied by thelas, temporary stalls and other encroachments. As a result, pedestrians are left with little choice but to walk on the road, putting them at greater risk, particularly on busy stretches and during peak traffic hours.
Dehradun municipal commissioner Alok Kumar Pandey said that the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) will soon conduct regular drives to clear encroachments from footpaths and restore pedestrian access. “We will conduct a regular one-week drive to remove encroachments from footpaths. Thelas, temporary stalls and other encroachments occupying these spaces will be removed so that pedestrians can use the footpaths,” Pandey said.
Localite Deepali said that the lack of continuous walking space was forcing pedestrians to take risks on busy roads. “In many places, we have to walk on the main road because the footpath is either occupied or damaged. With vehicles speeding past, it becomes especially risky for elderly people and children,” she said.
The Public Works Department (PWD) superintendent engineer Ompal Singh said that footpaths had been constructed along major roads in the city and that additional infrastructure would be planned wherever required. “Wherever there is a need for additional footpaths, the PWD will plan their construction.”The moment a complaint is received, a PWD team will deploy to the spot to take swift action and immediate repairs,” he said.
