Lack of footpaths on Ettines Road a hazard for pedestrians

With broken barricades and vehicles and temporary shops taking over what remains of a sidewalk, Ettines Road in Udhagamandalam Town is now a perilous route for pedestrians.

As one of the town’s main arterial roads servicing traffic headed towards important junctions like Charring Cross and tourist spots like the Government Rose Garden, Ettines Road has become one of the main choke points for traffic, with vehicles and pedestrians jostling for space on the narrow, dangerous road.

R. Moorthy, a resident of Fern Hill, said the lack of pedestrian accessibility on the roads was contributing to a multitude of problems, including increasing traffic. After a section of the Ooty Market was relocated to the ATC junction, many people who would typically walk to the Ooty Municipal Market now find it necessary to use vehicles to reach the temporary market, with the road now unsafe for pedestrians.

“This leads to more traffic within the town as a whole, as the Main Bazaar and Commercial Roads are much more pedestrian-friendly, and people, especially locals, could walk to the market during peak tourist season, avoiding the traffic. However, this is less likely now due to the present state of Ettines Road,” he said.

Local consumer awareness activists said that the stretch of Ettines Road from the bus stop, past Dasaprakash Road and towards the BS Hospital was particularly unsafe since there were no areas marked for pedestrians. “Since there are no street lights, it becomes even more unsafe,” said another resident, who said that constructing a sidewalk, and clearing the footpath surrounding the Ooty Race Course could help in making the roads safer for pedestrians as well as other traffic.