Column | Arun Pai: the ‘footpath mayor’ of Bengaluru
Arun Pai, a Bengaluru-based activist known as the 'footpath mayor,' is working to improve the city's walkability by clearing obstructions and partnering with local government. His efforts have gained momentum following a Supreme Court ruling on the fundamental right to walk and subsequent government funding for infrastructure.
Why it matters
The story highlights the intersection of grassroots civic activism and urban governance in rapidly developing Indian cities.
Bengaluru’s pavements are a CrossFit course of broken tiles, construction debris and garbage — and Arun Pai, 57, won’t stop walking until he has cleared these obstructions. His video tutorial on dismantling sofas abandoned on the street got him a mention on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Mann Ki Baat podcast. Recently, Pai, founder of the popular Bangalore Walks and the city’s self-appointed ‘footpath mayor’, felt like the universe was finally listening.
The article provides a balanced view of the activist's work while acknowledging the controversy regarding street vendor displacement.
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