Risky giant billboard returns
A giant billboard erected close to high voltage electric lines at GEC intersection blocks the view and poses a threat of accident. Photo: STAR
A gigantic billboard to the height of a four-storied building was erected, very close to three high voltage lines of Power Development Board (PDB) at city's busy GEC Intersection, posing a threat to lives and properties. Three advertising firms have jointly installed the 120 feet by 40 feet billboard recently, much to the surprise and awe of the pedestrians, commuters and locals who apprehend that this giant billboard may be a disastrous one in the face of any strong storm. They said how Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) could give permission to the ad firms to raise such a 'dangerous' and 'life-threatening' billboard. Of the three PDB lines, one 33,000-KVA line belongs to Feeder No-1 of Stadium Circuit while the other two to Feeder Nos 17 and 18 of Jalalabad Circuit under Khulshi Sub Division, sources said. But many people express their surprise at the 'mysterious' silence of the PDB, although the sky-high billboard virtually overshadowed the power lines. They fear the billboard on it is equally exposed to a disastrous spark any time if it touches the power lines. Abu Taher Mohammad, a resident of the locality, said the billboard appears as a matter of concern for residents around it. He said the floating people always stay under the billboard and the busy road in front of it is always found crammed with different kinds of vehicles. It would cause huge casualties if the billboard collapses, he said. Imam Hossain Chowdhury, a businessman of nearby Nasirabad area who travels on the road everyday, said he goes to the Agrabad Commercial Area through the road to see his business and back home. He said he feels insecure when he crosses the giant billboard. “I don't understand how the corporation could give permission to build such a risky billboard, let alone the destruction of city's natural beauty,” he questioned. The three firms -- Ad Way, Ad Valley and Ad Frame -- had erected on the same spot a giant billboard on a huge structure, which was made of five poles during the BNP-led four-party alliance government. But authorities under the caretaker government removed around 670 hoardings, including the giant billboard and a huge structure of GEC Intersection during drives as they narrowed down the skyline, caused serious vision pollution and posed threat to lives and properties. Mujibur Rahman, managing partner of Ad Way, on April 4 this year applied to the CCC for permission to rebuild the billboard of 120 feet X 40 feet on the same site. Revenue Office of the CCC recommended the application for approval on April 9 and Mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury approved it the same day. After getting permission, the firms erected a giant structure on five poles and put on billboard on it last week. Mujibur, however, has dismissed any risk out of the billboard saying the structure has been built so strongly that there is hardly any chance to its falling down or causing accident. He claimed that the billboard in the area in fact has increased the beauty of the area. Kajal Kanti Chowdhury, executive engineer of Khulshi Sub-Division, said the matter has been drawn to his attention and he has already assigned an engineer to examine whether the structure is erected dangerously close to PDB lines or poses any other threat. He said they normally give objection if billboard is built close to our lines and they would do the same if their investigation finds it dangerous. CCC Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) Mohammad Mainuddin couldn't be available for comment despite repeated attempts.
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