Bangladesh City's First Escalator-Equipped FOB in Disrepair

The first escalator-equipped foot overbridge (FOB) in Chattogram, a major port city on the southeastern coast of Bangladesh, is in major disrepair after being installed by Chattogram City Corp. nearly seven years ago at a cost of nearly BDT40 million (US$324,520), Prothom Alo reports. The FOB was used for only two months after being inaugurated in January 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic prompting Chattogram City Corp. to suspend its operations amid lockdowns a short time later. When the pandemic situation eased, complications arising from the electrical connection and electricity bills required to operate the escalators resulted in the FOB closing for good. An engineer with whom the source spoke said the location for the FOB was ill-conceived, since it lacks heavy foot traffic and there are no barriers to discourage people from crossing the road directly — which most area residents continue to do.