By: Express News ServiceMumbai | Updated: November 10, 2025 09:59 PM IST 2 min readThe Maharashtra government has directed all municipal corporations to allocate 1% of their annual budget for road safety and pedestrian awareness, in line with Supreme Court orders.(Source: File)The Maharashtra government on Monday directed all municipal corporations in the state to earmark at least one per cent of their annual budget for road safety, traffic discipline and public awareness initiatives, in line with Supreme Court directives on pedestrian safety.The Supreme Court, in its order issued in a public interest litigation, had mandated that every civic body must open a separate budgetary head for pedestrian safety and utilise the funds exclusively for road and pedestrian safety-related measures.A Government Resolution (GR) issued by the Urban Development Department on Monday sets out 14 directives for all urban local bodies.Among the key measures is a provision for installation of tactile paving at major public transport hubs — including bus stands, metro and railway stations — to ensure better accessibility for the visually challenged persons.Civic bodies are required to coordinate with the traffic department to improve pedestrian access and provide “seamless entry, waiting areas and tactile routes.”Municipal corporations have also been instructed to conduct footpath audits every six months through registered auditing agencies, prioritising busy areas such as markets, schools, colleges, transport terminals and tourist spots.The audit report, along with a time-bound plan for repairs, must be submitted to the Urban Development Department.Story continues below this adFurther, the order directs all civic bodies to remove encroachments from footpaths and pedestrian corridors, maintain proper lighting, cleanliness and CCTV surveillance on pedestrian bridges and subways, and ensure that zebra crossings comply with IRC and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) guidelines.Each municipal corporation will also set up a dedicated “Accessibility and Pedestrian Cell” to oversee planning, implementation, maintenance and grievance redressal. Accident-prone areas must be identified in coordination with the police, and safety personnel deployed where necessary, the order said.The GR asked civic bodies to ensure that at least 20 per cent of city roads are surveyed annually to assess the need for new pedestrian crossings, while non-motorised transport — such as cycling and walking — must be promoted through proper regulations under the Motor Vehicles Act.All municipal corporations have been asked to establish an online grievance portal for complaints regarding encroachments, damaged pavements or pedestrian facilities, with mandatory resolution within 15 days.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Maharashtraroad safety