FC Road footpaths paved with slippery intentions
Activists allege PMC is using bathroom tiles to‘beautify’the area, neglecting the danger they pose to pedestrians
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is spending Rs 6 crore of the taxpayers’ money on procuring and fitting bathroom tiles to ‘beautify’ the footpath on F C Road, social activists are alleging in response to our front page report (‘Footpath trips on conspiracy’, September 26)’.
The activists said that using such tiles without taking into consideration the pedestrians’ safety, especially those of senior citizens, is a very short-sighted decision on the part of the PMC. They said that there is a likelihood of people slipping and sustaining injuries. The situation becomes worse during the rains. Senior citizens are more at risk here, the activists added. According to them, the matter should be reviewed with topmost priority being given to anti-skid properties, robustness and durability. They also stressed the importance of sample paving to check how it holds up over an adequate period of time and obtaining feedback from citizens before taking a final call. The activists have also supported paver blocks over these tiles.
‘TILES NOT FOR USE ON FOOTHPATHS’ Prashant Inamdar, convenor, Pedestrians First, said, “We conducted a study and found that the tiles are getting dislodged and damaged easily. We also found that their thickness is only about 10 mm, which makes them difficult to set into position properly. Moreover, the adhesion of the tiles to the footpath’s surface also seems to be improper. So, it’s likely that the tiles could get dislodged easily.”
“The tiles appear to be suited more for indoor use than on a footpath. Since they are of good quality and easily removable, the chances of pilferage are high. The gaps between the tiles are not properly filled and the cement is not applied uniformly, giving them a shabby appearance. Also, since the tiles are of a lighter colour, any irregularity will get highlighted, affecting the overall aesthetics,” he added.
“Moreover, the presence of utilities below the footpath necessitates digging for maintenance. In such cases, these expensive tiles will get damaged, making restoration a costly affair. But this is not the case with paver blocks. In short, the tiles selected for F C Road footpaths do not appear to be suitable for footpath application. We have conveyed these facts to the municipal commissioner and concerned authorities and requested them to stop further procurement of these tiles and their installation.”
TILES ARE A PROBLEM FOR THE AGED Corporator Dr Siddharth Dhende said, “Very often, people slip and fall on bathroom tiles or mosaic. The percentage of such mishaps is more among people in the age group of 50 years and above. Injuries like hip fractures are common. Hospital treatment for such injuries can go up to Rs 1 lakh or more. The civic body should keep all this in mind before completing the process.”
DECISION WELL THOUGHT OUT: PMC Vinay Desphande, officer on special duty (OSD), PMC, said, “We have considered all aspects before taking this decision. The tiles have anti-skid properties. They are not bathroom tiles. We have already used such tiles on J M Road and there has been no problem so far.”
TILE STATS Total cost:
Rs 6 crore Cost of one tile:
Rs 46 Total length to be covered:
1,600 metres Normal block:
Rs 65 per sq ft
Pune Mirror’s September 26 page 1 report
The broken tiles on the footpath of Fergusson College Road are becoming an increasing problem for pedestrians
Source: http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Layout/Includes/MIRRORNEW/ArtWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=MIRRORNEW&BaseHref=PMIR%2F2010%2F09%2F27&ViewMode=HTML&PageLabel=2&EntityId=Ar00200&AppName=1
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