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We had given the CoC a set of standards as sample. This was during the initial phases of the LB pilot. These were based on the US Department of Transportation standards. A very comprehensive set of standards indeed.

We expected them to say, “this is Chennai, you can’t expect western standards to work here”. To our surprise the Corporation team took parts of it and sent out a circular to all the zones. The circular detailed the new standards of how to construct the footpath of Chennai.

For example, if the footpath is 5 meters or longer, then the sloping at the end of the footpath should start one meter from the edge. This makes sure that the edges don’t drop off sharply, rather slopes in a way that people can walk down or climb up.

Example for this is right in front of the Rippon Building, the main office of CoC and on G N Chetty Road. Every time I visit the CoC I get to watch pedestrians actually walking on Chennai footpath. You see them walking down, crossing in front of the gate and then walking up the footpath. If the footpath is clean and has no debris, then you see them walking all the way to the other end. They don’t walk on the road.

Same Chennites as before. I don’t think anyone gave them a quick lesson on how to walk on a footpath.