Make the Dhaka city pedestrian friendly

The footpaths and footbridges in the capital are still not pedestrian friendly. Sometimes the authorities of the two city corporations with the help of law enforcers take some steps to evict the hawkers in an attempt to show that they are active, but soon the footpaths and footbridges are occupied by them in absence of overseeing of the corporations authorities as well as law enforcers.

In the busy thoroughfares in the capital such as in the Farmgate, New Market, Gulistan, Mirpur and other places where people usually gather in crowds, the footpaths are virtually difficult for pedestrians to move through.

According to a report of this newspaper yesterday, at present the entrance of the footbridge and its adjacent pavement in Banglabazar are obstructed by setting up different stalls by hawkers. The students of Jagannath University, Dhaka Collegiate School and Heed International School are finding it increasingly difficult to use the footpath and the footbridge.

Added to hawkers’ stalls is the nuisance of motorcyclists who know no traffic rules. They often climb over and run through the footpaths scaring the pedestrians. And this they do right in front of the traffic police who look at this traffic anomaly with helpless eyes.

When it is difficult for a normally healthy pedestrian to course through the city’s footpaths and footbridges, one can very well imagine what could be the situation for a physically disadvantaged person. There are not adequate ramps built for them in the capital. Even the built ramps such as the one in front of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport often remain out of operation.

All this indicates that the relevant authorities must take all necessary steps to make the capital pedestrian-friendly including particularly for a physically disadvantaged person. The condition of Dhaka city’s footpaths and footbridges is nowhere near the condition of a city in an advanced country.

But Dhaka city has to be modernized with all amenities. There is a grave allegation that under the patronization of influential people or even bribing the police, hawkers build stalls on the footpaths and clog them. Time is now to catch these people and members of the law enforcers who are responsible for choking the footpaths. Besides, the nuisance creating motorcyclists will also have to be effectively reined in.  

 

Make the Dhaka city pedestrian friendly

The footpaths and footbridges in the capital are still not pedestrian friendly. Sometimes the authorities of the two city corporations with the help of law enforcers take some steps to evict the hawkers in an attempt to show that they are active, but soon the footpaths and footbridges are occupied by them in absence of overseeing of the corporations authorities as well as law enforcers. In the busy thoroughfares in the capital such as in the Farmgate, New Market, Gulistan, Mirpur and other places where people usually gather in crowds, the footpaths are virtually difficult for pedestrians to move through. According to a report of this newspaper yesterday, at present the entrance of the footbridge and its adjacent pavement in Banglabazar are obstructed by setting up different stalls by hawkers. The students of Jagannath University, Dhaka Collegiate School and Heed International School are finding it increasingly difficult to use the footpath and the footbridge. Added to hawkers stalls is the nuisance of motorcyclists who know no traffic rules. They often climb over and run through the footpaths scaring the pedestrians. And this they do right in front of the traffic police who look at this traffic anomaly with helpless eyes. When it is difficult for a normally healthy pedestrian to course through the citys footpaths and footbridges, one can very well imagine what could be the situation for a physically disadvantaged person. There are not adequate ramps built for them in the capital. Even the built ramps such as the one in front of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport often remain out of operation. All this indicates that the relevant authorities must take all necessary steps to make the capital pedestrian-friendly including particularly for a physically disadvantaged person. The condition of Dhaka citys footpaths and footbridges is nowhere near the condition of a city in an advanced country. But Dhaka city has to be modernized with all amenities. There is a grave allegation that under the patronization of influential people or even bribing the police, hawkers build stalls on the footpaths and clog them. Time is now to catch these people and members of the law enforcers who are responsible for choking the footpaths. Besides, the nuisance creating motorcyclists will also have to be effectively reined in.