The littered and dilapidated condition of the Plaza
footbridge in Dimapur.
DIMAPUR — The
Foot Over-Bridge (FoB) at Plaza Point in Dimapur—constructed by the Road and
Bridges Department two decades ago on May 22, 2004—continues to pose a serious
threat to pedestrians with its dilapidated condition calling for repair.
However, more than the dilapidated condition, what calls for
immediate attention is the issue of sanitation at the footbridge, which is in
need of urgent redress.
Pedestrians cannot take the footbridge because of the
accumulated trash, human waste, and stink of urine.
Shopkeepers below the FoB have become habituated to the
sight and the stink.
“There is trash thrown all over the footbridge and on the
staircase, which makes it difficult for pedestrians to use it. Trash is a minor
issue now, as there is also urine and human waste at the FoB, because of which
the footbridge is always filled with stink.
“Those who know of its condition avoid using the footbridge,
but those who are new to the town take the footbridge only to curse after
encountering the stench and display of lack of civic sense,” one of the
shopkeepers said.
In the past, various NGOs have attempted to give a facelift,
wash and clean the footbridge, paint and place dustbins, and beautify the
footbridge.
The littered and dilapidated condition of the Plaza
footbridge in Dimapur.
It is always a mammoth and challenging task for those who
take up the challenge to facelift the footbridge, knowing well that in a day or
two it will be defiled.
Reports also suggest that it has become a safe haven for
substance users.
In December last year, the Team Better Dimapur (TBD) also
took up the task of beautifying, with minor repairs, the footbridge.
It took the team around three days to clean the FoB. The
members shared that they had found human excreta and around 30-40 bottles
filled with urine and around six iron frames meant for beautification
vandalised by miscreants.
“We had installed around 24 frames to hold flower pots meant
for beautification along the FoB at the Plaza intersection but some were
damaged with the intention of stealing. However, such an act of vandalism is
not a new encounter in our beautification work. We also repaired a few damaged
bars of the footbridge, although it was not a major repair,” the TBD president
Mhonjan Humtsoe lamented.
Even the FoB at Deluxe Point is defiled, although the
structure is sturdy, unlike the one at the Plaza intersection, he observed.
He asserted that unless the citizens cultivate civic sense,
the condition of the FoB will remain the same even if various NGOs attempt to
clean and beautify them.
“Not even days after we cleaned and gave a facelift, the FoB
has gone back to where it was—littered with human waste, trash, and tobacco
spit,” he pointed out.
The littered and dilapidated condition of the Plaza
footbridge in Dimapur.
“None of the efforts by NGOs have been acknowledged, and
instead, the damage and waste continue to multiply. Even after several news
reports by various media houses, there seems to be little or no effect on the
authorities,” a shopkeeper said.
