KOCHI: Four foot overbridges (FOBs) on the 16km stretch on NH 66 from Edappally to Aroor have been opened but they remain largely unused. Pedestrians still prefer to walk across the road than climb up the stairs of the FOBs to cross the busy road. As a result, these unused pedestrian facilities are fast becoming a place for people to take rest or simply to take selfies while vehicles zip past below.The National Highways Authorities of India (NHAI) have built five foot overbridges in all along the stretch at Edappally, Palarivattom , Chalikkavattom, Kannadikkadu and Panangad in the last one year. The one at Edappally is yet to be opened for public.Pedestrians attribute various reasons that prevent them from using the overbridges, starting from difficulty to climb the steps, inconvenience and shortage of time. The overbridges are constructed at a height of 20ft above the road and have up to 45 steps.Authorities constructed the foot overbridge near Kannadikkadu bus stop recently since pedestrians crossing the road here face the risk of getting knocked down by speeding vehicles coming down from Thaikudam Bridge. But people still continue to cross the busy road by foot instead of using the bridge.“It takes time to climb the foot overbridge. Besides, we get tired. We are careful while crossing the road though it is risky,” said ITI student Asif who was found crossing the road below the foot overbridge in Kannadikkadu, along with his friend.Headload workers in the junction, who have witnessed several accidents in the area, opine that people will definitely use the foot overbridge if authorities put up a barrier in the highway median to prevent pedestrians from crossing the road.“Aged people cannot climb the overbridge. I have an injury on my right leg. How can I climb so many steps? It will be helpful if authorities install escalators as we see abroad,” said Issac, an elderly pedestrian.TOI spent around 15 minutes below the overbridge in Kannadikkadu and found only two people using it. ‘I met with an accident while crossing the road. Ever since that accident I use foot overbridge whenever and wherever it is possible,” said Maria, working with a private hospital. However, no one was found climbing the overbridge in Panangadu. “Students from the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies sometimes climb the bridge and take selfies. It will be good if they set up an escalator so that we need not climb the steps,” said Navas, a student. Compared with other foot overbridges, the one in Palarivattom has some users. “Me and my friends use the bridge regularly to cross the road. It is very useful to construct foot overbridge in busy junctions,” said B. Com student Punya.Officials of the Kochi Aroor Tollway Pvt Ltd, entrusted with the operating and maintaining the road, said it has become a habit for people to walk on the road and cross it. Using the foot overbridge is yet to be part of the culture of pedestrians, they said. “People first demand the overbridge citing accidents while crossing the road. But when we construct the bridge, people refuse to use it,” said an official of the contract company.

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