Shortage of Footbridge: Risk at every step
Most intersections on the streets of Chattogram do not have any footbridge. Hence, pedestrians at these intersections are compelled to cross the roads, putting their lives at risk.
Accidents have become a more frequent phenomenon in these different areas of the port city. Pedestrian Fulchan Miah (54), was killed by a truck while he was crossing the road at Tulatoli intersection on December 16 last year.
Earlier on December 11, Abdul Quddus (45) was killed after being hit by a four-wheeler leguna while crossing the road in front of Baby Super Market at Sholashahar.
On September 21, Md Masiuddaullah (50) was killed by an unidentified vehicle while crossing the road at Halishahar Port Connecting Road.
The city currently has 12-footbridges at New Market, Chattogram Railway Station Road, Dampara, Port Connecting Road, CEPZ Intersection, Colonel Hat, Fakirhat, Muradpur, Chattogram Customs House Intersection, Port Officers Colony and Navy Hospital Gate areas.
According to the residents, foot over-bridges are required at a minimum of 18 intersections and 22 areas of the port city, including Chawk Bazar, Nawab Sirajuddaula Road at Chawkbazar point, Kotwali, Bahaddarhat, Sholoshahar Gate-2, Wasa, Lalkhan Bazar, Dewanhat, Chowmuhuni, Agrabad Badamtoli, Oxygen, Anderkilla, Laldighi, AK Khan, Alankar, GEC, Tulatoli and Kazir Dewri intersections.
On Sunday, Tamanna Khanam, a West Bakalia resident, was seen to be waiting with her six-year-old daughter at Chawkbazar point on Nawab Sirajuddaula Road. She told this correspondent that she had been waiting for around 10 minutes to cross the road.
"The moment I try to cross the road, a vehicle appears and I can't go to the other side," she said.
"We could have crossed the road safely and with ease with a foot over-bridge here."
There were many others like Tamanna. Some were also seen to be running to cross the road quickly and taking a risky endeavour.
Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) started to build two foot-over bridges in GEC intersections in 2019. However, the project was not completed.
Contacted, CDA chief engineer Hasan Bin Shams said they constructed a foot-over bridge in Muradpur Intersection, but the GEC project was halted as the city corporation has taken an initiative in this regard.
According to sources, Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) recently conducted a survey in different areas along with a feasibility study of constructing foot over-bridge in those different areas. Around 93.4 percent of people were found to prefer foot overbridge. CCC has taken an initiative to construct 38 foot-over bridges at 31 intersections in the city after the survey.
"The LGRD ministry has approved the project worth Tk 58 crore," said Rafiqul Islam, CCC chief engineer. "We will call for tender for the construction by March," he added.
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