Gulam Rabbani :
Most of the foot-over bridges in the capital city have been lying unused for being under the grips of snatchers, sex workers, beggars and vendors.
Pedestrians also do not want to use the foot-over bridges for fear of untoward incidences, especially snatching. These foot-over bridges were constructed to avert road accidents, pedestrians’ safety and smooth running of vehicles. During a visit it was found that a section of advertisement companies, government offices and political parties had set up banners on the both sides of the foot-over bridges that make bridges invisible to the pedestrians as well as a hotbed for anti-socials activities, such as snatching, prostitution and drug abuse.
Consequently, people like to cross roads risking causalities. As a result, it causes traffic jams on roads during the peak hours, making life of city people more difficult.
During the recent visit to foot-over bridges, this reporter found that pedestrians were rarely using bridges which are located near Shishu Park, Ramna Park, National Press Club, Karwan Bazar, Shewrapara, National Museum, Asad Gate and Kazipara areas.
On the other hand, city dwellers are mostly using foot-over bridges at Farmgate, Mirpur-10, Mirpur-1, Kakoli and Banani. But these bridges remain occupied by the vendors. A number of foot-over bridges were seen in abandoned condition. Generally people are not interested to use the foot-over bridges as they have been lying in dilapidated conditions.
The foot-over bridges in front of Ramna Park, Asad Gate, Kazipara, Shewrapara, Paribagh, Notre Dame College were found dirt with human excreta and waste. The street people were also found dwelling on several bridges.
‘The miscreants snatch valuables if they find any pedestrian on the foot-over bridge taking the opportunity in absence of security,’ said Rezaul Haque Kawshik, a pedestrian and a private job holder, adding that he rarely uses foot-over bridges for the cause.
Mahfuzur Rahman, another resident of Shyamoli area, said he also does not use foot-over bridge as there was not enough security. He alleged that vendors occupied the most part of a foot-over bridge. So it is difficult to use foot-over bridges at busy hours.
Md Monirul Islam, a Traffic Police official of Ramna Zone, has told The New Nation that DMP operated mobile courts for increasing awareness among the people on using foot-over bridges. But manpower is too short to operate regularly. ‘People are not properly conscious how to and when to cross. We have a limited workforce. So, we can’t continue mobile courts for all the time’, he said.
According to the City Corporation officials, both the City Corporations in the capital have nearly 90 foot-over bridges. Among those, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has 56 bridges while Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has 31, most of which are not being used.
Engineer Md Shihab Ullah, Director of Clean Air and Sustainable Environment Project of DSCC, recognized some problems. The Mayor of DSCC directed the concerned Department to remove banners and billboards from the foot-over bridges, he said.
He also said that they had already taken many steps for beautification of the foot-over bridges to make them attractive. Foot-over bridges in the Bailey Road, Shahbagh, Boshundhara and LabAid area had already been beautified by DSCC and problems would be solved gradually, he said.
Engineer Iqbal Habib, Joint Secretary of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan (BAPA), said that foot -overbridges in the city were not installed in a planned way. Most of them were not at right places.
He has also said that foot-over bridges should be installed generally in the high ways or in places where more people cross. Dhaka city’s foot-over bridges’ were installed in places where signalling system was effective. This was humiliating to the pedestrians.
