Editorial
Sorry tale of footbridges, underpasses
Old ones need overhauling, the new to be strategically located
The photograph of a dilapidated footbridge at Shahbagh intersection of the metropolis on the back page of The Daily Star on Saturday says aplenty about the extent of mismanagement of the Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) when it comes to providing essential public service. We spend huge sums of money to erect these structures but once built, they are left to caprice of the elements and human vagary. They are mostly in derelict conditions with no repair work having been done since their construction. Lighting arrangements in the bridges and underpasses are conspicuous by their absence. They become dark tunnels at night, booby-traps laid by snatchers. On top, the steep stairs make climbing and descending veritable ordeals for the users.
Footbridges, or for that matter, underpasses are an essential component of amenities a modern city has to provide. But the citizens feel that many of them have been constructed at wrong places. With the number of motorised vehicles rising every month, appropriate placement of such structures is of paramount importance. It would be in the fitness of things, therefore, that the DCC conduct a survey of the conditions of the existing footbridges and underpasses and see how far these can be done up and pressed into service, albeit not for the criminals who tend to use them as their dens.
Since we can ill-afford to demolish the structures that have been raised at a huge cost, all we can do is to locate the newly planned ones at suitable points. And then all these must be made safe for use at day time as well as at night by installing electric lights and ensuring regular police patrol. No excuse should be entertained by the authorities in this regard.
Finally, we hope that the government would not hesitate to place the required budget for the purpose, with money specifically allocated for maintenance.
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