Poor execution of plans behind unplanned Dhaka

Dhaka remains an unplanned city despite having some notable urbanisation and transportation plans, thanks to poor implementation of the plans, said noted civil engineer Prof Jamilur Reza Choudhury.

Within three days of publication of Dhaka's detailed area plan (DAP) in June 2010 in official gazette, it was subjected to a further review by a seven-member ministerial body virtually holding back its actual implementation, he said.         

Meanwhile, most of the conservable flood flow zones earmarked in the DAP were filled up to give way for real estate developers and others leading to a frequent inundation of Dhaka city even in normal monsoon rain, said Prof Jamilur at the inauguration of a week-long Smart City campaign in the capital yesterday.

United Nations Development Programme and the Access to Information (a2i) programme of the Prime Minister's Office jointly organised the event at Bangabandhu Novo Theatre with an aim to build awareness about smart city ideas.

Agricultural land has been destroyed in the same fashion, he said. 

The Strategic Transport Plan for greater Dhaka city put emphasis on pedestrian-friendly transportation system, but nothing has so far been done to that end, said Prof Jamilur, who led the technical body for both urbanisation and transportation plans.  

Kabir Bin Anwar, project director of a2i programme, said it was true that there were plenty of plans and laws for planned urbanisation, but those were not properly implemented.

He said the government is working on a four-lane circular road in Dhaka city, and a high-powered committee was working on to prepare a master plan on saving the four Dhaka rivers.

Selina Hayat Ivy, mayor of Narayanganj City Corporation, said a lack of coordination among various government departments despite a cabinet division circular, was the foremost barrier to an effective functioning of an elected mayor. She demanded that public land be handed over to city corporations and municipalities for turning those into green and open spaces.   

Charlotta Schlyter, ambassador of Sweden, said good governance and fighting corruption are the keys to building smart cities.

Citing that some features of a smart city are inclusiveness, cycling, water conservation, good air quality, emergency services and waste management, she said Sweden turns 99 percent of waste into energy and her country would remain beside Bangladesh in such endeavour.     

Among other events, the campaign week holds a three-day display of innovative ideas by government and private organisations for a smart city at the Novo Theatre.

A total of 66 government and private organisations including 36 municipalities are showcasing their ideas on city plan, transport, low cost housing, green building, waste management, urban poverty reduction, water for all, public toilet, pollution control, disaster management, ICT and public space.  

HM Ahidul Islam, mayor of Kotalipara municipality and secretary general of Municipal Association of Bangladesh; and Sudipto Mukerjee, country director of UNDP Bangladesh, also spoke.