Srinagar has invested considerably in modernising its urban infrastructure. Traffic signals, surveillance systems, intelligent traffic – management measures and redesigned intersections have become increasingly visible across the city under the Smart City programme. Yet, at many signalized intersections, a basic component of a properly designed traffic system remains conspicuously absent : infrastructure that clearly tells pedestrians where to cross and when it is safe to do so.
At a well-designed signalized junction, traffic movement and pedestrian movement are planned together. The traffic signal regulates vehicles, the zebra crossing provides a clearly defined path for pedestrians and a dedicated pedestrian signal communicates directly with people waiting to cross, telling them when to stop and when to proceed. These elements should operate as one integrated system.
At many locations in Srinagar, however, this complete pedestrian – crossing system appears to be missing or inadequately provided. Traffic lights tell motorists when to stop and move, but pedestrians may be left to determine for themselves where to cross and whether it is safe to do so. The absence of a clearly marked zebra crossing and a dedicated pedestrian signal transforms what should be a predictable movement into a matter of individual judgement.
That is not the standard expected of a modern urban traffic system.
Walking remains an essential part of daily mobility for thousands of Srinagar residents travelling to schools, markets, hospitals, offices, public transport stops and residential areas. A child crossing a busy road, an elderly person carrying a shopping bag, or someone with limited mobility cannot be expected to negotiate traffic in the same way as an experienced motorist.
A dedicated pedestrian signal provides certainty. A zebra crossing provides a defined route. Together, they establish a clear relationship between pedestrians and vehicles and reduce unnecessary points of conflict. This is precisely what good traffic engineering should achieve – predictable movement, clear communication and reduced risk.
The omission is particularly striking because neither element is especially complicated. A zebra crossing requires appropriate road markings and regular maintenance. A pedestrian signal requires a clearly visible signal head, proper positioning and coordination with the existing traffic – light cycle. Yet these relatively modest interventions can make a significant difference to the safety and confidence of people walking through the city.
International experience demonstrates the value of treating pedestrian infrastructure as an integral part of modern traffic management. Singapore, widely recognised for its sophisticated urban and transport systems, combines intelligent traffic management with marked pedestrian crossings, pedestrian signals, accessible footpaths and other safety measures. London has an extensive network of signal – controlled pedestrian crossings in which pedestrian movement is deliberately incorporated into the traffic system.
Copenhagen has long placed walking and cycling within the core of its urban mobility planning, supported by safe crossings and traffic – calming measures. Barcelona has similarly experimented with pedestrian – priority streets and redesigned public spaces to reduce the dominance of through – traffic.
These cities are not without their own traffic and pedestrian – safety challenges and Srinagar need not replicate their infrastructure. Their relevance lies in a basic planning principle – pedestrian movement must be deliberately designed into the transport system rather than accommodated as an afterthought.
Srinagar can begin with a straightforward intervention – a comprehensive Pedestrian Crossing and Signal Audit of all major signalized intersections. Each junction should be assessed for the presence, location, visibility and condition of zebra crossings; the availability and positioning of dedicated pedestrian signals, the adequacy of crossing time; the connectivity and condition of adjoining footpaths; accessibility for persons with disabilities; lighting and visibility and obstructions caused by parking, roadside activity or poorly designed approaches.
The audit should also determine whether particular locations require additional measures such as raised crossings, pedestrian refuge islands, speed calming or improved signage. Where zebra crossings are absent, they should be provided. Where markings have faded, they should be restored. Where pedestrian signals are missing, they should be installed wherever warranted by traffic and pedestrian conditions. Most importantly, these facilities should subsequently be inspected and maintained rather than being treated as one – time interventions.
The issue has acquired an additional constitutional dimension following the Supreme Court’s judgment of June 19, 2026, in Maniyar Iliyaz v. P. Ayyappan, in which the Court recognised the right to walk safely on demarcated footpaths as a fundamental right flowing from Articles 19(1)(d) and 21 of the Constitution. The judgment reinforces the broader principle that pedestrian safety cannot simply be subordinated to the convenience of motorised traffic.
For Srinagar, this provides an important perspective as the city continues its urban transformation. The question at a signalized intersection should not be limited to whether vehicles can move efficiently. It should also be whether a person on foot can cross the same junction safely, clearly and with dignity.
This is where the meaning of a Smart City should be understood more broadly. Cameras, sensors, command centres, data platforms and intelligent traffic systems can improve the management of a city, but technology is only a means to an end. The ultimate measure of urban infrastructure is the experience it provides to the people who use it.
Perhaps Srinagar’s intersections should therefore be assessed not only from behind a steering wheel but also from the footpath. A person standing at the kerb should be able to immediately identify the designated crossing, see the pedestrian signal and understand whether it is time to wait or proceed. There should be no ambiguity about where the pedestrian belongs within the traffic system.
The solution is neither complicated nor necessarily expensive. What is required is a recognition that pedestrian crossings are not decorative road markings and pedestrian signals are not optional accessories. They are essential components of a safe, predictable and inclusive urban transport system.
Srinagar has already invested in the technology to manage modern traffic. The next step is to ensure that modernisation does not stop at the edge of the carriageway.
At every appropriate signalized intersection, the message should be unmistakable. The traffic signal tells the vehicle when to stop. The pedestrian signal tells the person when to walk. And the zebra crossing tells both where those two movements must meet safely.
These are simple things. But sometimes the simplest things reveal whether a city has truly been designed for people.
Srinagar has taught its traffic lights to speak. It is time to give its pedestrians a clear voice and a safe place to cross.
