Footpath is a self explanatory term - a passage specially created for the safety and convenience of the pedestrians. I vividly remember walking on quiet and the safe footpaths of Mangalore as a young boy accompanying my mother to the market.
What has happened now? Many roads just do not have footpath. The basics insist that when a road is created, road, drains and footpath have to be constructed as a unit. Earlier there was not much of technology - but there was robust common sense. Now there is modern technology and no sense common or uncommon!
If by chance the road you chose to walk on does have a FOOTPATH what has happened to it? Food vendors occupy it in the plum places parking their carts - making it a FOODPATH. People crowd round it effectively blocking what is left of it!
Many ladies walk on the road and therefore the flower vendors are sure to occupy a corner making it a FLOWERPATH .Many varieties will be available in a small space!
Vendors of footwear are ubiquitous and there is no better place than the footpath to sell them - they convert the footpath into the FOOTWEARPATH!
Autos and 2 wheelers and sometimes 4 wheelers are parked on it as if the owners of these vehicles also own the footpath making it a FOOTPARK!
Some self respecting people are upset and try to tell the vendors that they are blocking the path and being an obstacle. If looks they give could kill, these guys would surely be dead - making it a MURDERPATH!
Come elections, or festivals the footpaths now will be occupied by the poles and banners - usually holes are dug into the footpath to stabilize the banners - a sure way to destroy it permanently!
Once I remember reaching the venue at Bangalore late when I was an invited faculty for a lecture for a Post Graduate Medical Education Programme because the road was blocked for some drama festival!
Is there any remedy for this problem? Probably the change has to come from within. Common sense and civic sense have to be rediscovered. After all the footpath is primarily meant for the pedestrians.
I only hope that these people who usurp the footpath realize their fallacy and vacate the same it will again be a pleasure to walk safely on the footpath. Let us rediscover the joy of using the footpath properly
What has happened now? Many roads just do not have footpath. The basics insist that when a road is created, road, drains and footpath have to be constructed as a unit. Earlier there was not much of technology - but there was robust common sense. Now there is modern technology and no sense common or uncommon!
If by chance the road you chose to walk on does have a FOOTPATH what has happened to it? Food vendors occupy it in the plum places parking their carts - making it a FOODPATH. People crowd round it effectively blocking what is left of it!
Many ladies walk on the road and therefore the flower vendors are sure to occupy a corner making it a FLOWERPATH .Many varieties will be available in a small space!
Vendors of footwear are ubiquitous and there is no better place than the footpath to sell them - they convert the footpath into the FOOTWEARPATH!
Autos and 2 wheelers and sometimes 4 wheelers are parked on it as if the owners of these vehicles also own the footpath making it a FOOTPARK!
Some self respecting people are upset and try to tell the vendors that they are blocking the path and being an obstacle. If looks they give could kill, these guys would surely be dead - making it a MURDERPATH!
Come elections, or festivals the footpaths now will be occupied by the poles and banners - usually holes are dug into the footpath to stabilize the banners - a sure way to destroy it permanently!
Once I remember reaching the venue at Bangalore late when I was an invited faculty for a lecture for a Post Graduate Medical Education Programme because the road was blocked for some drama festival!
Is there any remedy for this problem? Probably the change has to come from within. Common sense and civic sense have to be rediscovered. After all the footpath is primarily meant for the pedestrians.
I only hope that these people who usurp the footpath realize their fallacy and vacate the same it will again be a pleasure to walk safely on the footpath. Let us rediscover the joy of using the footpath properly
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