Most of the foot-over-bridges in the capital have been grabbed by hawkers with their makeshift shops, creating hassle for the commuters.
Farmgate foot-over-bridge, one of the busiest over bridges in the capital, was seen full of makeshift shops and beggars, impeding the free movement of the pedestrians. This over-bridge is used by a large numbers of people as there is no other way to cross the road on foot.
The temporary shops installed by the hawkers are seen at most of the foot-over-bridges in the capital causing huge discomfort to the commuters.
The same scenario was observed in other foot-over-bridges in Gulistan, Gabtoli, Housebuilding, Abdullahpur and Motijheel areas.
Sources said there were around 34 foot over bridges under the Dhaka North City Corporation and over 30 bridges under the Dhaka South City Corporation.
A pedestrian, Abdul Kuddus, who had been passing the Farmgate foot-over-bridge with her 12-year-old daughter, said: “Hawkers have grabbed most of the areas of the bridge. The makeshift shops have been creating hassles in our movement.”
Another pedestrian, Abdur Rashid, 65, said: “Hawkers even sit on the stairs blocking the way for people. It seems that the bridges have been built for hawkers and we cannot use them.”
Although government has taken moves in the past to evict hawkers, all of the steps have been in vain, he added.
Earlier on November 1, 2010, the government decided to evict all the hawkers from the foot-over-bridges, but the move was suspended as per the request from The Hawkers’ Association.
The association had requested the government for proper rehabilitation, so that they could run their business without any disruption.
Meanwhile, it is the responsibility of Dhaka Metropolitan Police and both city corporations to free the bridges from hawkers.
Mir Rezaul Alam, joint commissioner (traffic) of the DMP told the Dhaka Tribune: “We are continuously evicting hawkers from footpaths, roads and foot-over-bridges. But, after eviction, they again grab the areas.”
Earlier, the DNCC had taken plans to free the footpaths and foot overpasses, which were never implemented.
Brig Gen Md Abul Khair, DNCC chief engineer, claimed that he was aware of the illegal grabbing of footpaths and foot overpasses by vendors.
Khair said: “We have taken a plan to evict hawkers from footpaths, and foot overpasses and clear them. Their presence is halting the movement of pedestrians, and we will evict them soon.”
When asked, a hawker, Monu Mia, said: “I run my family by earning money through vending. I don’t have money to hire a shop inside a big market. So, I am sitting over bridges to sell my goods.”
Another vendor Azgar Ali said: “Eviction of vendors is not a solution. We are selling goods for the sake of our family. If government gives us employment and rehabilitation then we will not sell goods at the foot-over-bridges.”