Townships to be built beside Dhaka

Rajuk has taken up a project titled "flood-flow area, water reservoir conservation and compact township" beside the Turag river to reduce pressure on the capital and in an effort to build a water-centric smart city.

Sharif Ahmed, state minister for Housing and Public Works, informed this to parliament yesterday in reply to a query of Awami League MP Benjir Ahmed.

In a scripted answer, he said the project proposes to use 32 percent of land as development area (residential, commercial, civic services) and 68 percent as conservation area (reservoir, greenery, recreational facilities and canal/river embankment).

He also said the feasibility study of the project has been completed.

"The project, if implemented, will play an effective role in reducing waterlogging and traffic congestion in Dhaka," Sharif Ahmad said.

He said there is a plan to allocate plots and flats under the said project.

The state minister said the National Housing Authority has visited Dhamrai, Keraniganj, Singair in Manikganj and Sirajdikhan in Munshiganj to take up the satellite township development project.

About 7,000 acres of land in that area is suitable for housing projects, he added.

The last session of 11th parliament that began yesterday will continue till November 2.