News
Colombo’s cluttered pavements
View(s):Jay walking is an offence. But pedestrians who use Colombo’s streets have no choice but to walk along the middle of the road despite the heavy flow of traffic.
Story and pix by Priyantha Wickramarachchi and Muzayyin Nazim.
Our cameramen captured pictures showing how heavy construction work in Colombo is forcing pedestrians to walk along the centre of the roads even during peak traffic hours, as the pavements have been blocked with construction materials. This despite the pavements being reserved for pedestrians.
Contractors, both the government and private, show no concern for public safety. Construction materials including sand, cement blocks and other materials are piled on the pavements forcing pedestrians to negotiate their path along the roads, putting their lives at risk.
To make matters worse vehicles too are parked in a haphazard manner alongside hoardings and construction materials dumped on the pavements.
As though this is not bad enough, in a number of instances, pedestrian crossings too have been obliterated, forcing people to cross roads haphazaedly.
Stray cattle pose an added menace pedestrian have to circumvent.
No one seems to give a fig for the safety of the public who are forced onto the middle of the road
While building materials block the pavements,heavy vehicles are parked adjacent to the pavements forcing pedestrians onto the main road
A common sight on our roads construction materials placed on the pavement.
Building materials scattered across the pavements are forcing people onto the main road endangering their lives
Who cares for the public...?
To add to the misery stray cattle frequently add to the confusion