Why doesn't anyone in India talk about sidewalks?

I've explored a large part of Surat, and one thing keeps bothering me.

On most main roads, there is a footpath. But the moment you turn into a side street or a smaller road, the sidewalk simply disappears. You're forced to walk on the road with traffic.

Even on the main roads, the situation isn't much better: Street food stalls take over the footpath. Some shops extend their displays onto it. Some building owners remove or modify the sidewalk in front of their property. Some malls and commercial buildings use the footpath as parking.

At that point, is it really a footpath anymore? When I see cities in Japan, China, Europe, Australia, or even many parts of the US, pedestrians have continuous, clean, unobstructed sidewalks. Walking feels safe and normal.

In India, it often feels like pedestrians are the last priority. We spend so much time discussing flyovers, highways, and metro projects, but almost nobody talks about something as basic as being able to walk safely.

A city isn't truly modern just because it has wide roads and tall buildings. It's modern when an ordinary person can walk from one place to another without stepping into traffic.