"Whose idea was this, anyway?"... Complaints pour in over the 'worst walkway'

"Helps Replenish Groundwater" vs. "No Consideration for Vulnerable Pedestrians"... Debate Erupts

India's new pedestrian walkway, designed to allow rainwater to drain efficiently, has sparked controversy over its safety and practicality.

A new pedestrian walkway in the Shalimar Bagh area of Delhi, India. Screenshot from X (formerly Twitter).

According to Indian media outlets News18 and India Today on Nov. 8, a debate erupted on social media over a newly installed sidewalk in the Shalimar Bagh area of Delhi, India.

The debate began with a video. In it, a man pointed to the newly installed paving blocks and explained that rainwater could seep through holes in the blocks into the ground instead of pooling on the surface, while also providing moisture to nearby plants. Such blocks could help reduce puddles and replenish groundwater in cities with extensive concrete surfaces. He said the walkway was "part of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta's ongoing efforts to make Delhi more developed."

However, social media users questioned the walkway's safety and practicality. Some, like the man who posted the video, viewed it as a practical measure to improve the city's water management, while others disagreed over whether blocks with large gaps and holes were safe for pedestrians. One social media user used artificial intelligence (AI) to create and share an image of a woman's high heel caught in a gap between the blocks. Another user who said they had walked on a similar path complained, "This kind of sidewalk is absolutely the worst. I tripped about five times while walking and eventually walked on the road."

Some also voiced concerns about the safety of people with limited mobility. They asked, "Women wearing high heels, small children, people pulling carts, and people using crutches can't use this path, and people with visual impairments can't use their canes either. Who on earth designed this?"

Others said the drainage might not work as well as expected. One user pointed out, "These holes can easily get clogged with trash and sediment, so rainwater won't drain properly unless they're cleaned frequently. In particular, if the foundation is weak, the blocks may shift or settle unevenly, making the path even harder to use over time." The user added, "Even if the plan is to grow grass in the gaps, it requires ongoing watering and maintenance, which is impractical on a busy urban sidewalk."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.