Lying idle for over two years
Pedestrians reluctant to use the foot overbridge in Patuakhali
Although there is a foot overbridge on Patuakhali-Kuakata road in Patuakhali Chowrasta area, people still cross the road directly without using the overbridge due to lack of awareness of traffic rules.
Road accidents often occur in the area, but the people ignore the danger.
Mayor Dr Shafiqul Islam took steps to build a foot overbridge at Chowrasta point to prevent road accidents in the extremely busy area.
The then secretary of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Ministry Abdul Maleq laid the foundation stone of the overbridge on October 11 in 2015.
The cost of the bridge was around Tk 1.58 crore and the municipality implemented the project.
The bridge was complted in April, 2016, but it has been lying idle since then as people do not use it, although they take a risk while crossing the very busy road that also connects with Kuakata sea beach and Payra sea port.
Kalikapur Government Primary School, Abdul Hai High School, Akkel Ali College, Kalikapur Kindergarten School are near the overbridge, but the students do not use it due to lack of awareness about traffic rules.
Moreover, the area is an important place as people from different places and districts come here to go to Kuakata sea beach and Payra sea port.
The Chowrasta is the only means of road communication between the district town and other districts.
Kabir Hossain, a local shopkeeper, said people do not use the bridge but cross the road on foot, which is risky as the road is becoming busier every day.
School teacher Md Jahangir Hossain said the municipality built the bridge considering the safety of the people, but they do not use it due to lack of awareness.
Local municipality Councillor Abdul Motin alias Zahid Hossain, said people should use the bridge to prevent road accidents.
Municipality Executive Engineer Abdul Halim said people do not use the overbridge due to lack of awareness, although it was built considering the interest of the people.
“We will take steps to create awareness about the matter,” he added.