No Safe Space for Morning Walkers in Balasore : Citizens Risk Lives Walking on Busy Roads; Appeal for Public Walking Zone
Balasore, 3 November : (Krushna Kumar Mohanty)
Morning walkers in Balasore are facing growing safety concerns due to the lack of a dedicated walking space in the town. With no open field available for public use, hundreds of residents- including senior citizens, women, students, and fitness enthusiasts — are compelled to walk along busy streets, risking accidents as vehicles pass at high speed.
The once-accessible fields have either been taken over or restricted. The only permit field has been acquired by the Sports Department, while entry to the Police Line field has been denied to the public by the police authorities. As a result, people have no option but to use the main roads for their daily walks.
Residents point out that with increasing health awareness, many come out as early as 4:30 a.m. for their morning exercise. However, the absence of a safe walking zone continues to put their lives at risk. Citizens allege that neither the district administration nor the local representatives, including the Collector, MLA, or SP, have shown any interest in addressing the issue.
People across the town have urged the authorities to immediately identify and develop a safe and accessible walking track for the public. They have also requested the SP of Balasore to allow the Police Line field for two hours in the morning under a fixed schedule, with the deployment of a PCR van to ensure security and protect walkers from antisocial elements.
