The impact of a flyover on walkability and land use of surrounding areas:a case of NAD flyover, Visakhapatnam

Abstract

Urban walkability, defined as the ease and safety with which people can move through cities on foot, is a crucial element of sustainable and inclusive urban design. It shapes how people interact with their surroundings, access daily needs, and feel safe and comfortable in public spaces. In India, where rapid urban development often prioritizes cars over people, walkability tends to be overlooked especially near large infrastructure projects like flyovers. This thesis focuses on the NAD Flyover in Visakhapatnam, a major intersection built to ease traffic congestion and explores how it has affected pedestrian movement and the land use around it. What might seem like a solution to traffic on the surface often comes at a cost to street life below. The construction of the NAD Flyover has altered how people walk, wait, crossroads, and access local shops and public spaces. This study investigates those changes using six core walkability parameters: footpath availability, footpath condition, obstacles on pathways, ease of road crossing, pedestrian safety, and street lighting. These parameters helped assess how friendly or unfriendly the post-flyover environment is for people on foot. The study also includes perspectives from shopkeepers and daily users to understand how the flyover has impacted everyday experiences. The research approach involved field visits, visual surveys, photographic documentation, user interviews, and mapping of pedestrian infrastructure. In parallel, existing literature was reviewed to understand what makes flyovers more integrated with walkable environments both globally and in Indian cities. One key insight from the literature was the lack of focus on pedestrian experience and land-use disruption in flyover projects. By studying NAD as a case, this research aims to fill that gap and highlight the real-world implications that often go unnoticed in traffic-focused planning. From the surveys and site analysis, it became evident that walkability around the NAD Flyover has taken a back seat. Many footpaths are missing, broken, or blocked by poles, vendors, or debris. Street lighting is poor or absent in some stretches, making night-time walking uncomfortable or even unsafe. Crossing roads has become difficult, especially for older adults and children. Local businesses also reported a drop in footfall since the flyover opened. People just don’t stop and walk like they used to. Additionally, the under-flyover space has been left underutilized, with no active public use or design consideration, turning it into a dead zone in the middle of a busy area. To make this space more inclusive, this thesis proposes a series of improvements, continuous and wider footpaths, well-marked and raised pedestrian crossings, better lighting, safer edges, and activating under-flyover areas with vending, public seating, or green pockets. These proposals aim to restore the human scale and walkability that was lost. In doing so, this research highlights a bigger message: infrastructure should not only move vehicles faster but also connect people better. By designing flyovers that work with pedestrian life not against its cities like Visakhapatnam can create safer, more connected, and more vibrant urban streets. Key Words: Urban Walkability, Flyover Visakhapatnam, Pedestrian Safety, Land Use Change, NAD Flyover, Visakhapatnam