Freeing up parking spaces

Dhaka North City Corporation has issued a one month period to all building owners who must remove illegal structures that have sprung up in the underground spaces designated for parking vehicles. We think this is a very good idea. Dhaka city has been facing the problem of illegal parking on roads that adds more chaos to an already chaotic traffic situation in the capital. Moreover, the move by both city corporations to remove commercial activities in residential zones is a move in the right direction. According to the law, there is no room for commercial establishments to be housed in residential areas, but the practice has been allowed to go on for years. We would like to know why Rajdhani Unnayan Kattripokkho (RAJUK) has allowed this illicit practice to prosper for so long.

Although the move is to be applauded, we find that due to several thousand injunctions and court cases against the authority, its ability to take action against offenders is impeded. That said something needs to be done to systematically zone the city into residential and commercial areas. This is how things are done in other countries and it works well for managing traffic movement in a city as large as ours. Obviously, there is graft involved that allows for builders to get away with obtaining permits to construct commercial buildings in the heart of residential areas. We hope the city fathers will be able to make headway in tackling these pockets of corruption and clear not only parking spaces but parks, footpaths and other public spaces that have been illegally occupied for decades.