The Supreme Court of India has directed all States and Union Territories to frame clear rules for pedestrian movement and non-motorised vehicles on public roads within six months.
The bench, led by Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan, stated that these rules must be created under Sections 138(1A) and 210D of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, as amended in 2019. These sections give the States authority to make rules for the safety and regulation of people walking or using non-motorised vehicles such as bicycles, rickshaws and handcarts.
The Court also clarified that for national highways, any such rules must be made in consultation with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The order aims to improve road safety and ensure that both motorised and non-motorised traffic can move safely and efficiently on Indian roads.
This direction came while hearing a long-standing petition filed by an orthopaedic surgeon from Coimbatore in 2012, highlighting the rising number of road accidents in India and the lack of adequate safety measures for pedestrians.
The Supreme Court’s order is expected to bring long-term changes in urban and rural mobility planning. It will also push States to design safer walking paths, cycle lanes and clear zones for non-motorised transport. The six-month deadline shows the Court’s urgency to protect vulnerable road users and reduce India’s growing road accident toll.
