Great news for the pedestrians of Uttarakhand, the government gave the first right on the road

Dehradun, 21 April 2026: The style of traveling on the roads in Uttarakhand is now going to change completely. If you also walk on the roads of Devbhoomi or use means like tanga-bullock cart, then this news is very important for you. The state government is going to bring a new and ‘concrete safety policy’ for the safety of pedestrians and non-mechanical vehicles. The Transport Headquarters has prepared the outline of this policy and sent it to the government, in which not only the pedestrians have been given the first right on the road, but preparations have also been made to impose strict penalties for those who ignore the rules.

Government in action after Supreme Court order

This step of the state government is not a normal change, but is part of the strict instructions of the Supreme Court. Last year, while hearing the case ‘Rajasekhar vs Central Government’, the apex court had ordered all the states to create clear rules and infrastructure for the safety of pedestrians and traditional vehicles (like hand carts or bullock carts). Following this order, a detailed proposal has been prepared under the leadership of Additional Transport Commissioner Sanat Kumar Singh. At present this proposal is being closely examined at the government level, after which it will be presented in the cabinet for final approval.

Now you will rule on zebra crossing

The biggest thing about this new rule is that now pedestrians will be considered ‘king’ at zebra crossing. According to the proposal, if a pedestrian is crossing the road at a zebra crossing, then motor vehicle drivers will have to stop their vehicle before the ‘stop line’. This rule will not only apply to car or bike riders but also to those pulling tangas and handcarts. This means that now you will have the first right to cross the road and the drivers will have to give way to you.

Prohibition of walking on the highway and new safety structure

To prevent accidents on high-speed roads, the government can impose a complete ban on walking and non-mechanical vehicles on national highways and expressways. But the convenience of the pedestrians has also been taken care of. It has been suggested to build an underpass or foot over bridge (FOB) every one to three kilometers in populated areas. Also, it will now be mandatory to make footpaths along the roads and sign boards will be installed at various places so that no one gets confused.

If there is no footpath, you will have to walk ‘upside down’

It is often seen that in the absence of footpaths, people walk on the side of the road and are unable to predict the vehicle coming from behind. To solve this problem, a unique change in the policy is proposed. On roads where there are no footpaths, pedestrians will have to walk in the opposite direction of traffic. With this, pedestrians will be able to see the vehicles coming from the front and will be able to be safe in time. The aim of the Transport Department is to minimize deaths in road accidents through these rules.