India's top court declares safe walking a fundamental right

India's Supreme Court ruled in June that the right to walk safely on footpaths is a fundamental right, spotlighting the neglect of pedestrians in cities. Around 45 million Indians walk to work daily, yet footpaths are often unsafe or blocked. Pedestrians account for about a fifth of road deaths, and crashes cost India 3-5% of GDP annually. The ruling arose from a child's death and challenges decades of car-centric urban planning.