Footbridges occupied by vendors, beggars
ABHIJEET DAS
Most footbridges in the capital have been either grabbed by hawkers, who have set up makeshift shops, or beggars in search of alms, causing inconvenience to pedestrians.
Farmgate footbridge is one of the busiest in the city. As people have no other channel to cross the road on foot, the bridge sees a huge rush of people every day. But unauthorised makeshift shops erected by hawkers act as hurdles.
At times, the hawkers occupy almost the entire walkway of this footbridge, while beggars squat on the stairs.
The scenario is the same on other footbridges at Kamalapur, Gulistan, Gabtoli, Housebuilding, Abdullahpur and Motijheel. City corporation sources said there were around 90 footbridges and three underpasses at busy city intersections, and more were under construction.
The worst situation prevails on Kamalapur footbridge, which links Atish Dipankar Road to the railway station. Daily essentials such as vegetables, fish, fruits, shoes, makeup materials and other commodities are sold there. The ambience is that of a fair or a market, compelling people to force their way.
When asked why he had chosen such a place for his business, Mamun Rahman, a fruit-seller, told this correspondent: I have no permanent place to run my business. I can do it on footpaths, but this place (Kamalapur footbridge) seems very convenient for catering to customers.
I chose the bridge as a place for my livelihood because I dont have enough money to rent a shop, he added.
Shahriar, who sells jewellery on Farmgate footbridge, said: Most vendors who run their businesses on these footbridges regularly pay a toll to police line men and extortionists. But policemen on duty nearby flatly denied the allegation.
A stunning pedestrian overpass at an intersection near the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport was inaugurated earlier this month. The bridge features an escalator, the second of its kind in Dhaka after Banani. Earlier, pedestrians used to risk their lives to cross the road in the absence of a footbridge, often causing a gridlock.
People had imagined the impressive facility would be free of hawkers and beggars. But here, too, beggars have taken over.
It is the responsibility of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police and the two city corporations to keep the footbridges free of encroachers.
Talking to The Independent, Tejgaon Industrial Traffic Zone assistant commissioner Abu Yusuf said: Were evicting hawkers and vendors from footbridges as part of a drive, but they keep coming back. However, the number of such vendors dropped significantly this year, thanks to our efforts to remove unwanted hawkers from footbridges before Eid-ul-Fitre. And before Eidul-Azha, the hawkers would be evicted.
Since you have told me about the present situation, Ill inform the people concerned about the difficulties commuters face there (Farmgate footbridge), he said, adding, Its not difficult to evict them. Hawkers and beggars take chances to occupy the bridges when we concentrate on other duties.
We also look forward to the city corporations help in ensuring smooth movement on the footbridges. Just beautifying them with colours and flowers is not enough, he said.
