Footbridges, underpasses in city in sorry state
Most of the city footbridges and underpasses remain in appalling condition in absence of necessary maintenance and fail to serve its main purpose of ensuring safety of pedestrians.
Besides, unwanted elements such as muggers, pickpockets, drug peddlers, floating sex workers and vagabonds prowl on these structures, creating an unhygienic chaotic atmosphere.
Sources in Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) said there are 51 footbridges in the city while the number of underpass is three. Stairs and walkways of many over bridges and underpasses eroded and became risky to use, pedestrians alleged.
Users complained that the over bridges were not built on the appropriate spots according to the needs of people.
Hawkers had taken over spaces of most footbridges and underpasses leaving very little room for pedestrians. With goods heaped up at the landing, pedestrians struggle to find the entrance and exit.
The overhead sheds and hoardings by the side of the over bridges have virtually turned many over bridges into dark tunnels. After sundown they become a risky spot for people, as there are no lights on the over bridges. Incidents of mugging have become quite frequent in recent times.
Urban planning specialist Salma A Shafi of Centre for Urban Studies who led a feasibility study for DCC last year cited ill design, height, steep stairs, narrow footpath, eroded condition and negative environment on the over bridges as the main reasons why pedestrians feel reluctant to use them.
"Sidewalks are very narrow in the city and it is difficult to build over bridges with enough space for this reason. The stairs were built too steep because of it. Climbing up these stairs is physically excruciating for many, especially for the senior citizens," Shafi said.
The over bridges in the city are around 25 feet high so that double-decker buses can pass under it.
Widening of the footpath is urgently necessary, Shafi said. Average width of the existing footpaths is a little more than 2.0m and there are many roads that do not even have a footpath, she said.
She also mentioned insecurity, insufficient lighting after dark and poor maintenance as the discouraging factors for pedestrians.
Md Jashimuddin, joint commissioner for traffic of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, blamed lack of awareness of people.
“By taking the busy streets the pedestrians are risking their own lives. They also slow down the traffic resulting in frequent congestions," he said.
“We can try to persuade them when they do not take the safer way but we cannot force them. But if there are provisions for penalties then we can force them to abide by the rules," he said.
Jashimuddin informed, the Motor Vehicle Ordinance 1983, which is being revised will have the provisions to penalise pedestrians for crossing busy thoroughfares without using footbridge or underpass.
Traffic department suggested a fine of Tk 300 for jaywalkers, he said.
Jashimuddin said the hoardings on the over bridge creates a shelter for unwanted elements especially muggers and should be removed.
Meanwhile, Dhaka city Mayor Sadek Hossain Khoka said, “There are very little space beside the streets and it is difficult to build a proper designed over bridge for this reason. Comfortable landing of footbridges is missing because of narrow footpaths.”
Khoka informed that the corporation often faces legal notices from different organisations while selecting appropriate location as most buildings in the city stands too close to the footpath.
Regarding the presence of hawkers and other negative elements he said, "Hawkers occupy most of the city streets not just the over bridge. It's a social problem. Law enforcers can play a part to clear the footbridges for pedestrians."
Power authorities have refused to give permission to use electricity on these over-bridges apparently to save power amid current situation of load shedding, he noted.
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