Full Breakdown
Odisha Proposes New Pedestrian Safety Rules to Hold Road Builders Accountable
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Proposal
The Odisha government’s Commerce and Transport department has released draft “Odisha Pedestrian Safety Rules, 2026,” which would make road contractors, lead engineers and related agencies criminally liable under Section 198A of the Motor Vehicles Act if faulty design, construction or maintenance causes a pedestrian’s death, disability or grievous injury. The rules also require a safety-compliance declaration from lead engineers and contractors before a project receives final clearance or financial closure. Penalties may include fines up to INR1 lakh, contract termination, blacklisting and withholding of payments.
Background and Rise in Road Fatalities
Road deaths in Odisha climbed from 3,931 in 2014 to 6,483 in 2025, a rise of roughly 65 per cent, and the state’s fatality rate is now 37.2 per cent higher than the national average, with 49 deaths per 100 accidents versus 35.7 nationally. The draft follows a June 2026 Supreme Court judgment that recognized the right to walk as a fundamental constitutional right, affirming that pedestrians’ use of designated footpaths supersedes motor-vehicle movement.
Key Provisions
- Mandatory Pedestrian Infrastructure: All new road construction, widening, improvement, maintenance and upgradation projects must incorporate pedestrian and non-motorised-transport (NMT) facilities at the design stage, unless written exemptions are approved by a competent authority.
- Continuous Footpaths: Urban arterial and sub-arterial roads in high-footfall corridors must have continuous footpaths on both sides, integrated with safe crossings, bus stops and other public-transport amenities.
- Speed Limits and Right-of-Way: Vehicle speeds are capped at 25 km/h in school zones and 40 km/h on major roads adjoining schools; drivers must give pedestrians right of way at uncontrolled crossings and maintain a 1.5-metre lateral distance when overtaking cyclists or NMT users.
- Prohibited Use of Footpaths: Parking, stopping, repairing or any obstruction of footpaths is banned unless expressly permitted by signage.
- Use of Recycled Materials: Municipalities must employ certified recycled construction and demolition waste for pavement tiles, kerbs and street furniture.
Implementation and Enforcement
Compliance will be monitored through mandatory safety audits, a public grievance redressal mechanism with a 30-day resolution timeline, and the deployment of speed cameras and CCTV systems. Utility agencies will be denied completion certificates until damaged walkways are restored, and a timeline of 7 to 30 days is prescribed for removing hazards such as open drains, damaged footpaths and exposed utility lines.
Outlook
If finalized after a 30-day objection period and notified in the official gazette, the rules could reshape road-building contracts across Odisha, incentivising higher construction standards and potentially reducing the state’s disproportionate pedestrian fatality rate.