Safeguard footpaths

Everything that is reported in The Hans India of February10 about the Chief Minister's master plan to promote Hyderabad as global city is logical and prudent. But what is the "mother" of all infrastructures? Opinions may vary but the facts cannot be changed. One likes or not, the real real answer is Encroachment-Free-Footpaths (EFF} everywhere, along big or small roads., in residential and non-residential areas.

Also called pavements or sidewalks, they will determine the beauty, culture, smartness, and civilised level of a global city. All other infrastructures can be successfully engineered, but EFF needs participation of public, good governance, and sharp management skills. The choice of Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) to lead the global-city-master-plan is excellent because, as I know, the experts there strongly believe in "clean, neat, uncluttered, and SAFE footpaths".

Prof B R Sant, Hyderabad