108km city footpaths under illegal occupation

Footpaths are made so that pedestrians can have a safe and hassle-free walk, but almost all the footpaths alongside the major thoroughfares in the two city corporations of the capital remain illegally occupied by hawkers and others despite drives by the authorities concerned, reports UNB.
The two city corporations-Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) -- are responsible for maintaining about 163km of footpath across the city, of which about 108km are now under illegal occupation, creating obstacles to free pedestrian movement, according to sources at the DNCC and DSCC.
Thousands of illegal makeshift shops have sprung up, especially in Gulistan, Jatrabari, Saydabad, Mouchak, Shantinagar, Motijheel, New Market, Nilkhet, Nawabpur, Karwanbazar, Gulshan-1 and 2, Badda, Natun Bazar, Baridhara J Block, Uttara, Mirpur, Farmgate and some other areas of the city corporations, including 108km footpaths, forcing the pedestrians to use the main roads.
They said using main roads by pedestrians is very risky as it may cause accidents apart from triggering traffic congestions.