City footpaths - for whom?

At the moment, Dhaka has few bustling areas where footpaths aren't chockablock with pedestrians wriggling through crowds and an array of consumer goods on display. The areas concerned have no permission for setting up shops along the space of footpaths, exclusively meant for walking. An atrocious aspect of the spectacle is that the business activities of some improvised shops are also run from here. Encroachment on Dhaka footpaths by vendors began on a small scale in the early 1980s. After the trend became widespread, the footpaths of almost the whole capital began passing through a distressing transformation --- the shops' illegal extension. A few of them began even renting out the footpath space in front of their shops.

Shops in areas owned by both the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) operate their full-scale business from these spots. However, a number of these shops are said to have been allowed to operate under the government-owned bus sheds. At the same time, other shopping facilities located at important points on footpath in the city corporation areas claim to have received due 'permissions' from the relevant authorities. Few believe them. Amid this confused situation, one truth remains clear. If this anarchic situation on the Dhaka footpaths continues unabated, the pedestrians' woes are feared to multiply further. Even in lean hours, movement through these walkways proves highly challenging. In a city teeming with population, the crowded and lawless footpaths add to the sufferings of the pedestrians.  The abuse of footpaths of Dhaka in the form of makeshift motor repair shops or mini-garages to motor parts retailers to movement of motorbikes in rush hours and even to space for car parking is far and wide. Large fruit sellers and snacks-cum-tea corners, joints of photocopying and computer print-outs etc occupy a large space meant for pedestrians.

Bringing order to the Dhaka footpaths in the busy areas has long become an imperative. Given the fast pace in which their condition is declining, days are not far when this city could be declared as one sans the trouble of footpaths. A section of the city-dwellers will, undoubtedly, be happy. Urban laws, rules and regulations, and the other dos and don'ts are anathema to them. The general people should be made to realise that the city of Dhaka has grown through different phases. In the early days of the city's urbanisation, the authorities' priority was to put in place motor vehicle-friendly roads. Several long-distance roads were constructed in quick succession. The early days of footpaths didn't see any radical development in the beginning, except compelling the pedestrians to use footpaths while on foot. It took a long time to make people accustomed to the practice of using footpaths.

Ironically, over six decades later people frenetically look for spacious and hazard-free footpaths in Dhaka. But what they confront instead is a series of ordeals they do not deserve. Footpaths are made for the pedestrians to help them walk in safety. As motor vehicles speed past people on foot, the authorities concerned have built the raised walkways to protect them from being hit by motorised vehicles. It's amazing to see that the pedestrians are fast becoming strangers to the footpaths. All it could mean that the relevant authorities, including the DSCC and the DNCC, are shunning responsibility in the upkeep of the capital's footpaths. This warrants urgent intervention by the policymakers.