Foot overbridge: Risky or not?

A picture of the foot overbridge between the Ramna Park and the Suhrawardy Udyan carried in this newspaper's May 26 issue speaks volumes for the condition of this structure and the risks it poses to passengers and vehicles using the busy road under it. The section of road in between the Shahbagh and Matsyabhaban crossings regularly witnesses the worst tailback imaginable. Brick chips, mortars and even an entire section of plaster come off from the overhanging bridge. One wonders if heavier part or even the entire rickety structure will not come crumbling one day.

If the Jagannath Hall tragedy is any guide, such a dark possibility cannot be ruled out. If rain water accumulates on the plastered floor with the concrete sides not allowing the water running down fast enough, the weight may prove too heavy for the already damaged bridge. When plaster comes peeling off from the bottom layer in several places of the 30-meter long bridge on its own, there is enough reason for its collapse when extraneous factors induce extra pressure.

However, the chief town planner of the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) claims that the foot overbridge poses no such danger right at this moment. He thinks that the two corpulent beams on both sides of the bridge used instead of pillars to hold the structure together will protect it from falling down. However, his considerate opinion is that the beams needed to be checked up. Also, the additional chief engineer assured in early December that the false ceiling damaged very badly at several places would be repaired. Since then about six months have passed but no repair was done. It is time to decide whether it should be repaired or pulled down before a tragedy happens.

The sight of the damage has by the time become more frightening. Thank God, motorists and passengers cannot see from their vehicle the deplorable condition of the overhead bridge. Leaving it uncared for any longer is to wait for a disaster to happen. Whether the bridge collapses or not, if a heavy chunk of the concrete comes off on a vehicle or anyone passing by underneath, it will no longer be an accident but a tragedy caused by wilful neglect.

Constructed over four years to be commissioned in 1997, the foot overbridge has not given a good account of its longevity. Unlike others of its kind, this bridge did not have to deal with heavy rushes on a regular basis. Still it failed to stay in good condition for two decades. This points to a character flaw the Bangalees are heir to. It concerns undertaking big projects without making provision for timely maintenance. All infrastructures in the public sector suffer from this general apathy towards routine maintenance work and consequently their life span is shortened drastically.

There are foot overbridges in the city, which have never been blessed with the touch of a broomstick of any sweeper, let alone their repair. Then floating people use a few of them for their permanent shelter. A few of these overbridges cannot be used because of occupation of the major portion by drug addicts, beggars and others. An inattentive pedestrian runs the risk of stepping on human excreta because at night some of the bridges' temporary residents feel free to relieve themselves right on the walking passage of those bridges. This makes the issue of maintenance even more incumbent.