Over 6,800 pedestrian deaths in Karnataka in three years, data shows

Karnataka recorded 6,844 pedestrian deaths betwixt 2022 and 2024, according to information tabled successful the Rajya Sabha by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

A year-wise investigation of the information shows that pedestrian fatalities person remained consistently high. In 2022, the State reported 2,105 deaths, which roseate sharply to 2,418 successful 2023 earlier somewhat declining to 2,321 successful 2024 (provisional). However, information for 2025 was not provided successful the reply.

Across India, pedestrian deaths accrued from 32,825 successful 2022 to 35,221 successful 2023 and further to 36,526 successful 2024 (provisional), indicating that pedestrian information remains a captious situation nationwide.

Pedestrian information norms

In his reply to the Rajya Sabha recently, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari stated that roadworthy development, peculiarly connected National Highways, is carried retired successful accordance with the Indian Roads Congress guidelines, including IRC:103-2022, which focusses connected pedestrian facilities.

“Pedestrian infrastructure — specified arsenic pedestrian underpasses, footpaths, foot-over bridges, and pedestrian crossings — is provided based connected elaborate surveys and tract requirements arsenic per IRC:103-2022 ‘Guidelines for Pedestrian Facilities’ to guarantee pedestrian safety,” helium said.

“Based connected the class of roadworthy and postulation volume, assorted postulation calming measures specified arsenic transverse barroom markings, rumble strips, raised pedestrian crossings, velocity tables, etc. are adopted for velocity absorption to guarantee the information of pedestrians alongside conveyance mobility. Further, roadworthy information audit is conducted connected each National Highways (NHs) astatine the design, construction, and pre-opening signifier of National Highway projects arsenic good arsenic connected existing NHs for ensuring information of pedestrians and different susceptible roadworthy users,” Mr. Gadkari added.

Expert calls for safer streets

Cities similar Bengaluru proceed to conflict with pedestrian information issues specified arsenic encroached oregon discontinuous footpaths, inadequate crossings, and mediocre enforcement of postulation rules.

Transport adept M.N. Srihari said, “Reducing pedestrian deaths requires a displacement successful however cities are designed. Authorities indispensable guarantee continuous footpaths, safer crossings astatine regular intervals, and strict velocity enforcement, particularly successful municipality areas similar Bengaluru, wherever pedestrian question is high.”

He added that adopting a “complete streets” approach, wherever pedestrians are prioritised alongside vehicles and conducting regular information audits tin importantly trim fatalities.

Design shift

Speaking astir pedestrian information connected highways, wherever radical often transverse high-speed corridors owed to the deficiency of due fencing oregon ft overbridges, Mr. Srihari said, “Preventing pedestrian deaths connected highways requires a cardinal displacement successful plan and enforcement.”

He said authorities similar NHAI indispensable determination beyond vehicle-centric readying and follow a ‘safe systems’ approach. “This means gathering continuous work roads, installing well-lit pedestrian underpasses oregon ft overbridges astatine regular intervals, and ensuring harmless crossing points adjacent habitations. No road should chopped done communities without providing safe, accessible pedestrian infrastructure,” helium explained.