Shops and stalls that illegally occupy footpaths will be given a temporary time slot where they can do business without paying any commission to any authority.
In order to make footpaths more walk-friendly, illegal occupants need to be dealt with. However, removing the occupants and them reoccupying the paths is a never-ending cycle. Hence an opportunity will be created for them.
Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Md. Atiqul Islam made the comments in his speech as the chief guest in the event ‘Walk or Use Public Transport, Limit Private Cars’ on the occasion of World Car-Free day in the Malibagh area of the capital on Saturday morning.
The DNCC mayor said, “Footpaths are cleared but reoccupied in no time. They are people trying to make a living, so a time slot will be allocated for them. Besides allocated time, the footpaths will be all clear to walk with ease.”
He added that a lot of authorities are accountable for this problem. However, for businesses during the allocated time, no commission will have to be paid to any authority.
The mayor further said that Dhaka has become home to too many cars and this leads to traffic congestions. In order to deal with this, extra tax or setting up toll booths in specific roads are in plans to limit traffic. Also, along with the Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, there are plans to make public transport such as buses, better.
The mayor stressed on makingevery Friday, a day where there would be limited cars on the roads and urged the people to walk or use public transportation.
“Let’s not travel in cars on Fridays and mark it as the car-free day of the week. That way, we can reduce congestion on the roads and adapt to a healthy practice of walking or using public transport,” he said.
Road Transport and Highway Division Joint Secretary Md. AnisurRahman, NagorikOdhikarShongrokkhonForum Chairperson HafizurRahmanMoyna and DNCC Chief Executive officer Selim Reza also spoke in the event.
Many officials from the DNCC were present during the event.
After the respective speeches, the DNCC mayor inaugurated and started the ‘Walkathon’ from Malibagh Bazar Community Center to Taltola market. Many students of different ages participated in the walkathon.
