The footpath warriors fighting for our right to walk

It’s a Monday evening in Delhi. You step out for a quick walk to the gym. The distance is short but the walk feels anything but effortless. Instead of simply putting one foot in front of the other, you’re constantly looking down, over your shoulder or scanning ahead for traffic.

You spot a footpath, only to find it blocked by a hawker, then two- and four-wheelers, a sudden barricade or a broken stretch. The stench of open urination or overflowing waste drives you back onto the road as cars and buses woosh past. An uncomfortable thought crosses your mind: what if a car swerves just a little too close?