- Visually impaired in troubles for contractors greed
- Slipped tiles & broken sidewalks cause harm than good
- Authority doesn't know about forgery work and broken path
- Drain passing through the floor of the pavement
Government has eyes on the specialized people especially for blind people. Special types of tiles have been installed on the capital's sidewalks to facilitate the movement of the visually impaired citizen. But this initiative is about to collapse due to the greed of a class of contractors. Within a few days of construction, these pavement tiles have either lifted, fallen or broken again. Accidents often happen while walking on these roads with broken pavements. Socially conscious people think that it is more likely to cause harm than benefit to the visually impaired.
It is known that the renovation of sidewalks and installation of new tiles is going on all over Dhaka. Pavement renovation works of several roads have already been completed. But almost everyone can see a novelty in these newly installed tiles. Tiles of different colors and designs have been placed on the sidewalks to facilitate the movement of the disabled which can be moved easily by using a wheelchair. Also the visually impaired people can walk easily on the sidewalk. The newly installed red-yellow tiles on the pavements of different areas of the capital have different types of tiles in the middle row. These yellow colored tiles have some long raised spots. Some have rounded raised spots.
Taher Ali, a wheelchair user of the College gate area of Mirpur Road, said, "These tiles have been placed on the footpath some time ago. I thought it was a very good initiative and used it. It's broken. I don't know how it broke in such a short time.
He said that although the concerned authorities have taken a good initiative for the movement of the visually and physically challenged, it is feared to be a boomerang for a very greedy class of people. Slipped tiles and broken sidewalks are likely to cause more harm than good to these disabled people.
Concerned authorities should take action in this regard now. According to City Corporation sources, this arrangement has been made to facilitate the movement of the disabled through long-shaped design tiles. Physically challenged people can move easily using wheelchairs and visually impaired people can use canes. Apart from this, by stepping on the circular patterned tiles, the visually impaired can now understand that they have to get down.
It can be seen from the surface, the installation of these tiles has been completed recently on the sidewalks on both sides of Khilkhet and Nikunj-2. At the time of placing the tiles, some spaces were left unplaced. Again, before one end of the tiling process was completed, the tiles on the other end were removed. Moreover, some places are broken. Somewhere the old pavement has been broken and there have been ditches.
Sharif Uddin, Additional Chief Engineer (Acting) of Dhaka North City Corporation said in this regard that the footpaths are currently being constructed in Dhaka and the type of tiles installed on them is keeping in mind the international concept. Pedestrians with disabilities will move through the median. Disabled people will understand that it is for their movement. Regarding the broken, he said, I don't know how it was broken. We are looking for it. If broken, it will be fixed again.
There are allegations that some of those installing the tiles are child laborers and unskilled. Due to which these expensive tiles are displaced and broken. It has caused holes in the pavement. And somewhere the mouth of the drain passing through the floor of the pavement has been exposed. Accidents often happen in this condition. But Dhaka North City Corporation has not yet taken any initiative to renovate the place.
In this regard, Mir Khairul Alam, the Chief Executive Officer of Dhaka North City Corporation said, beautification work is still going on in some places. As a result, the pedestrians will have to suffer for some more time. I am hopeful; the work will be completed very soon. He said, after construction, it is not supposed to collapse so quickly. I will ask the concerned officials to look into the matter.
ZH
