The footpath on Kingsway has deteriorated into a hazardous stretch of broken paver blocks, obstructed drains, and civic neglect. Particularly on the stretch fronting the Bank of India and the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) office, condition is so messy that pedestrians are forced to prefer the carriageway. No wonder there is rise in road mishaps in city despite efforts on part of city police to discipline the drivers. Near the LIC office, stacks of unused paver blocks lie dumped haphazardly, and they spill over onto the walkway, obstructing pedestrians. Loose tiles, scattered debris, and open drain chambers make the stretch perilous, forcing commuters to step off the footpath and into the busy traffic lane. The situation near the Bank of India is no better.

 

Here too, the surface has caved in at several points, with uneven pavers and persistent water-logging. Shopkeepers and residents allege that the underground drainage and gutter line remain perpetually choked. “During rains, this entire area floods within minutes,” said a local shopkeeper. He added that the drains are never cleaned, and the stagnant water becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes. The absence of functioning streetlights further aggravates the problem. After dusk, large portions of the footpath descend into darkness.

 

This turns the already uneven surface into a potential trap for unsuspecting pedestrians. Ironically, this section of road was revamped just two years ago as part of the city’s beautification drive undertaken alongside the double-decker flyover construction. Since the project’s completion, however, maintenance appears to have fallen through the cracks. Officials of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) reportedly maintained that the upkeep falls under MahaMetro’s jurisdiction, while MahaMetro sources insist that the responsibility no longer lies with them. Leena Budhe, Director, Centre for Sustainable Development, has questioned the accountability behind such conditions. She has raised the question of who is answerable from this neglect. The question, however, continues to hang unanswered.