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• Two arterial roads in east Delhi - GT Road that is a continuation of National Highway-1 , and Road Number 56, which connects National Highway-24 to Anand Vihar ISBT - recorded the maximum pedestrian fatalities last year. While 24 pedestrians died on GT Road, Road 56 claimed the lives of another 23. Most of these accidents took place in the daytime.What's behind the high death toll on these roads? While the Public Works Department has built two foot over-bridges on Road 56 and two more are being built, the road continues to lack basic pedestrian facilities such as continuous and wide pavements on both sides of the road. The railing work that was to be done by PWD along the central verge to deter pedestrians from crossing at grade level is only half done.

• At the T-junction that connects Road 56 to NH-24 , there is a small crossover facility in the middle of the road, but no zebra crossings on either side. The absurd half-crossover facility is an instance of how concerned agencies remain indifferent to the needs of pedestrians. While there is a short pedestrian crossover provided on top of the underpass on Road 56, pedestrians are expected to cross the actual road without road markings, traffic slowing measures or pelican signals. As a result, speeding vehicles taking a turn between NH-24 and Road 56 have killed many pedestrians in the past year.

• Meanwhile, the pedestrian over-bridge in front of Anand Vihar ISBT is placed near the entry gate of the bus terminal while the bus stops are placed far apart from it. Pedestrians choose to jump the high railing on the central verge than walk 300 metres till the over-bridge , and climb up and down to reach the bus stop on the opposite side. "We plan to propose the construction of another over-bridge near the exit gate of the bus terminal and a bus stop near it," said joint commissioner of police (traffic ) Satyendra Garg.

• Several more interventions are required on GT Road, which currently has almost no pavements, other proper crossover facilities at grade level, or over-bridges . Vehicles travel at high speed along this stretch as it is a high-speed corridor. The road has been built mainly for vehicles , with flyovers but few red lights. TOI found a bus stop - with no markings or place for pedestrians to cross over - right in the middle of the flyover. Pedestrians frequently climb the flyover and cross it in order to catch buses.

• "We are planning a three-pronged strategy for GT Road. Sufficient crossovers are required in the form of underpasses and over-bridges as this is an elevated road. Pedestrian facilities are a must and we are willing to work out traffic signals, if required. Traffic slowing measures in the shape of rumble strips will be placed as there is need to slow down traffic at locations where there is merging traffic. We will also introduce strict speed checking enforcement along the stretch," said Garg.

• Why subways, bridges don't work?

• Low height of central verge on roads encourages pedestrians to cross at the surface level Studies have shown that pedestrian crossovers are required every 200 metres, which is not possible with over-bridges and subways Poor road signage results in lack of awareness about these facilities Subways, especially, are badly maintained and unsanitary. Poorly lit, they become crime-prone Most of the subways shelter suspicious characters, some of whom are drug pushers and drunkards.The absence of escalators at many over-bridges makes them unsuitable for not only the elderly, the disabled and the infirm but also for anyone in a hurry Often, these are not positioned conveniently. They could be several hundred metres from a bus stop.

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