Most of the footbridges in the port city have been lying unused, as they are under the grips of snatchers, sex workers, beggars and vendors, thanks to the indifference of the authorities concerned.
Pedestrians rarely choose the footbridge which have been constructed for their safety as well as the maintainance of traffic flow, for fear of untoward incidences, especially snatching.
Local sources said a section of advertisement companies had set up billboards on the both sides of the footbridges that keep bridges invisible from pedestrians as well as making them a hotbed for anti-socials activities, such as snatching, prostitution and drug abuse.
Consequently, people avoid over bridges and cross roads while risking their lives, local sources said, adding that it had also been causing traffic jams on the roads during the peak hours, making life of city people more difficult.
According to Chittagong City Corporation sources, there are a total of 10 footbridges in the city and those are located in New Market, Chittagong Railway Station, BAWA School and College, CPA Girls’ High School and College, Free Port, Chittagong Export Processing Zone, Fakirhat, Customs intersection, Port Officers Colony and Navy Gate areas.
During a recent visit to the over bridges, this correspondent witnessed that pedestrians were using only three bridges in which two are located in EPZ area and one in BAWA School and College area while rest of the bridges were seen in abandoned condition.
People are not interest to use the footbridges as they have been lying in dilapidated conditions.
The foot over bridges in front of Municipal High School of New Market, Railway Station and Fakirhat areas were found almost wrapping with billboards while human wastes and dirt were littering on the bridges. The street people were also found dwelling on several bridges.
“The miscreants snatch valuable if they found any pedestrian on the foot-over bridge taking the opportunity of invisibility caused by the billboards,” said Sanjoy Nath, a shopkeeper at Shah Amanat Market, adding that he never used foot over bridges for the cause.
Alamgir Hossain, another pedestrian in Fakirhat area, said he faced risk while crossing road, however, had no alternative as the foot over bridges remained unusable and unsafe.
Sources at the Chittagong Development Authority said they had constructed nine bridges while rest one had been constructed by CCC, adding that they had handed over the bridges to the city corporation after construction.
The city corporation is entrusted with the task of looking after the foot over bridges.
Ahmadul Haque, chief revenue officer of CCC, told the Dhaka Tribune that he was not sure about the setting up of billboards on the foot over bridges adding that there was no scope to rent the foot over bridges for advertisement.
“We have recently started drive to evict illegal billboards, however, the drive came to a halt due to political turmoil in the recent period,” added the official.