Courier companies take over footpaths

In urban areas, traffic jam is generally triggered by some common factors, which general people sometimes tolerate for their own interest.

The government takes some positive steps such as widening the roads, expansion of footpaths and building flyovers and overpasses that cause traffic congestion up to a certain period.

However, in a city like Mymensingh, no such development works have so far been taken in recent times. As a consequence, dwellers have to face acute traffic jams, and they blame a section of courier service companies for the situation.

They have grabbed the whole of footpaths in the entire city, and, in many cases, large parts of the roads in front of their establishments. According to locals, this has become their tradition for years.

This trend has been hampering the movement of pedestrians as well as vehicles, worsening the traffic situation.

This correspondent came across this situation when he went on a walk in the city's Dhopakhola, CK Ghosh Road and Boro Bazar areas during busy hours recently.

The roads lead to important Charpara and Shambhuganj Bridge areas, which naturally see the huge pressure of various vehicles.

Courier service companies left their goods to smack on the pavements beside these roads. They load and unload their stuff during busy hours, causing public nuisance.

Locals said the authorities concerned have turned a blind eye to the issue.

Ramzan Ali from Dhopakhola said blocking of footpaths by these roads gives passers-by no scope to use those at all.

They have to jump or go down to the road to cross the area.

The worst sufferers are patients and their attendants, who have to face traffic snarl to reach Mymensingh Medical College Hospital every day, said Suruj Khan, a trader of the area.

Nazrul Islam Chunnu, convener of Janaudyog Mymensingh, a citizens' forum, alleged that a section of unscrupulous traders is enjoying a huge financial benefit by grabbing the city's footpaths. Nobody was bothered about it although it has been continuing for years, he added.

Chunnu demanded a sustainable action to evict the occupiers to keep the walkways clear.

Humayun Kabir Masud, operation manager of AJR Parcel and Courier Service at Dhopakhola, said sometimes their goods are kept on the footpath during delivery as they have no available space for loading and unloading those.

Noor Mohammad Khan Manik, manager of Sundarban Courier Service's Mymensingh branch at Boro Bazar, said sometimes, their covered vans are kept in front of their office.

Occupying footpaths is one of the major causes behind traffic congestion in the city, said Syed Mahbubur Rahman, traffic inspector in Mymensingh.

"City dwellers must be aware of this menace in a concerted way to help the administration and police to tackle it," said the traffic inspector.

Md Aminul Islam, assistant secretary of Mymensingh City Corporation, said they conduct eviction drives to clear the footpaths. However, the drives are yet to reach the expected goal.

"A coordinated drive involving the administration and law enforcers is a must to make footpaths usable for people," added the official.