Flyovers in the capital have become a symbol of development and infrastructural growth of Bangladesh. Most of the flyovers in the capital have proven crucial instruments to reduce traffic congestion and make commuting of Dhaka dwellers easier. But the Achilles’ heel of these flyovers is the poor lighting and the ill-maintenance of the lights. As a result, these flyovers have become havens for criminals.
A report published in this daily showed that snatchers, vagabonds, cheats and addicts are roaming openly over the capital’s flyovers and have become a reason for alarm to the city dwellers. Moreover, spaces under the flyovers are illegally occupied by people and have been transformed into shacks to house these people where it is thought that illegal drug trade is carried out.
Under the shroud of inadequate lighting,
many city dwellers are suffering
at the hands of criminals
Moreover, roadside robbery is also a frequent occurrence on flyovers. During the Eid holidays, a number of motorcycle-related incidents, in which youngsters on motorcycles have robbed people travelling on flyovers, occurred. There are also complaints that such snatchers groups routinely mug common people. Other than that, bad odour is whooshing in air from garbage kept under the flyovers which is detrimental to the beauty of the capital.
The report also put emphasis on the fact that six flyovers have been constructed to ease traffic congestion in the capital Dhaka in the last eight years. It cost about Tk 4,156 crore. However, traffic jams are also being created on the flyovers due to mismanagement and lack of proper planning. If such is the case then conscious citizens can only wonder as to how the capital of Bangladesh can be beautified and made free of crime and disorder.
Based on these facts, it would be prudent if the authorities concerned could take heed of the deteriorating condition of the capital’s flyovers and take prompt action to relieve the citizens of the problems. Above all, it is imperative that in future proper city planning is done to alleviate the pressure of people from the capital and also passively work towards decentralisation and make the capital more beautiful.
