Shop owners keep cartons and goods blocking the passageway at the Gulistan underpass.Photo: STAR

The biggest underpass of the country at Bangabandhu Square (Gulistan) in the city has failed to serve its main purpose even after eleven years into its construction as pedestrians still prefer to stay away from it.
The electronic market housed in the underpass has captured most of the space gradually narrowing the passageway meant for the pedestrians.
During a visit to the lone underpass market yesterday, it was found that most of the shop owners heap up merchandise right in front of their shops blocking the walkway.
Poor security, insufficient light, dirty interior and lack of fresh air especially during the power outage have turned it into a total chaos.
The mismanagement forces the pedestrians to cross the busy road risking life instead of using the safe underground passage.
“With all the boxes lying around in front of shops there is little space to walk. Besides, I heard that muggers are quite active here. I would rather cross the road than using the underpass,” said Abdul Halim an employee at the stadium market at Gulistan.
Another pedestrian said, “It is now more a market than an underpass. It is simply not pleasant for pedestrians anymore”
“During power outage, which has increased this summer because of frequent load-shedding, the place becomes suffocating and frightening”, he added.
Female pedestrians fearing unpleasant incidents often refrain from using the underpass. “I don't use the underpass at all. I went there once a few years ago and I felt extremely insecure”, said a female pedestrian.
The Gulistan underpass was constructed in 1997 at a cost of Tk 3.43 crore. It is a four-way tunnel with eight entryways.
The market inside the underpass sells mostly electronic goods including television set, stereo systems, CD player, two-in-one, radio, DVD and VCD player etc. Most of the shops are wholesalers, which rarely attract enough shoppers. It now has 104 shops in four rows and managed by the shop owners association.
Mohammad Selim a shop owner said, "We have no other option but to keep our goods on the passage because the size of the shops are very small and there is no storeroom at the underpass market"
Most shops in the market are only 100 sqft in size, he added.
Meanwhile the underpass market is facing a lot other problems unresolved since its construction. Storeowners often leave the market for lack of customers and uneasiness due to stuffy atmosphere.
“This summer the load-shedding has become extremely severe. It is not possible to sit inside the tunnel for 10 minutes without electricity. The suffocating atmosphere during power outage is seriously affecting our business”, added Selim.
Shop owners complained that the generator often remains switched off as the DCC officials try to save operating fuel. Besides, the generator lacks capacity to support the entire market.
Shop owners further said that security inside the underpass need to be beefed up. “Snatchers often take away things from the store. Just a few weeks ago they made good with two cartons from my shop,” said another storeowner.
Khaleque Khan, President of Bangabandhu Square Underpass Market Shop-owners Association said, “It is not just because of the market that most pedestrians avoid the underpass.”
There are several other reasons, he said.
However admitting encroachment on the walkway by shop owners he said, “We have served notice to all the owners asking them to keep the goods inside the yellow line drawn as the boundary of the shop”
“We have employed 10 security guards but they are not enough. They also do not have proper professional training. We need assistance from DCC and police department for better security,” he said.
Mayor Sadek Hossain Khoka said, "Steps are being taken to make the underpass more pedestrian-friendly. Hallways will be cleared so that pedestrians can move easily"
"However, nothing can be done to cut the number of the shops in the market as they are all legal tenants", he added.
About the generators he said, "No one ever complained about the generator. Actions will be taken if we get formal complaint.”