Most of the foot over bridges need major repairs or should be replaced immediately as they have become risky and vulnerable for pedestrian use.
The Kamalapur-Mugda foot over bridge in the capital was found with several parts of steel broken between the stairs on the west-south side of the road. Some parts are more at risk due to the rusting iron. Up the stairs and heading west towards Kamlapur railway station, several holes in the middle of the deck, about 25 feet long were found.
A conscious person installed some tree branches so that no one gets injured. The locals including the railway passengers are constantly suffering in crossing this bridge.
Even after that, the pedestrians tremble at the crossing of the bridge, realizing that the bridge will collapse. They cross the bridge cautiously. It is the only foot over bridge connecting Kamalapur railway station with Mugda area. Authorities have not taken any initiative to repair the footbridge, which is used by thousands of people every day.
Tamanna Begum, a resident of Mugda area, said this foot over bridge is used by thousands of people every day. And some of the decks on the south side of the bridge have been broken for a long time.
She said that she often stumbled while going up and down this part of the bridge. Some people are getting injured after slipping and falling. It has been in use for a long time, but no one is repairing it. As there is no street light in this part of the bridge at night, ghostly condition prevails after evening.
However, not only this Kamalapur-Mugda foot over bridge, but also most of the old foot over bridges in the city are damaged. Rust on the steel deck of the foot over bridge is found. All the foot over bridges are being used every day by the people of the city.
Ashraful Islam, a pedestrian, expressed his displeasure and said that he has to travel through the foot over bridge for his job. And he has to get up on this bridge and be afraid when his feet fall into the hole.
In this regard, the supervising engineer of DSCC Munshi Abul Hashem said that arrangements will be made to repair all the damaged foot over bridges.