Supreme Court Flags Lack Of Pedestrian Crossing Near Delhi High Court; Orders Nationwide Survey

The Supreme Court flagged a serious public-safety lapse — the absence of a pedestrian crossing on Mathura Road near the Delhi High Court and the National Zoological Garden — and directed a nationwide, phased survey to identify road crossing needs in major cities. The Bench emphasised the risk to thousands of daily pedestrians including court users, employees and families and ordered the National Highways Authority of India and other road-owning agencies to prepare action plans. The Court borrowed the Road Accidents Report, 2023, and directed that at least 20% of roads in the 50 listed cities be surveyed within one year, prioritising crowded stretches and locations with recorded accident data; the Delhi High Court/National Zoo crossing was singled out for first priority with remedial work to be completed within seven months. The directions are framed as part of systemic road-safety measures, and the judgment contains a range of ancillary directions on pedestrian infrastructure, footpaths and traffic calming measures.