Improper use of space under flyovers causing health, socio economic losses
The space beneath Dhaka's flyovers have been improperly used since they were opened to traffic without proper planning, resulting in annual public health, environmental, and socioeconomic losses, according to a study.
The study, financed by the UNDP and conducted by Brac University's Centre for Inclusive Architecture and Urbanism, was revealed at a seminar yesterday.
It examined the 10 flyovers in Dhaka, which have a total length of 105.22 kilometres and a total area of 207 acres beneath them.
Adnan Zillur Morshed, executive director of the Centre for Inclusive Architecture and Urbanism, who led the study, said the spaces that have been grabbed, misused, and discarded could be turned into urban assets with effective policy and planning.
Using Hanif and Moghbazar flyovers as examples, he said that underneath them, parking space, mosque, police box, temporary kitchen market, waste dumping area, and small shops have been set up.
In some places, street children and homeless people were seen taking refuge beneath those structures. In other places, these spaces were seen being used for the sale and consumption of illegal narcotics, Adnan noted.
The public health, environment, and socio-economic losses of such use of those spaces have been calculated to be Tk 21,000 crore annually, he added.
The urban planner said developed countries converted the spaces for community-oriented uses such as playgrounds, urban agriculture, forestation, cycle lanes, swimming pools, gymnasiums, walkways, rainwater harvesting, and even exhibiting street plays and arts.
"In many instances, we found small entrepreneurs were being involved in commercial usage of the spaces. The single-use structure is not useful for us. We need structures that can be used for multiple purposes. For that to happen, the goodwill of policymakers is pivotal", Adnan said.
He mentioned the vendor policy in Mumbai, India, and said policymakers in Dhaka could develop one that defines how much space will be given to vendors and how much will be kept for pedestrians.
"The policy has to be inclusive, participatory, and lower-income group friendly."
"In France, such spaces are used to house homeless people. So, our policy should aim to accommodate the low-income people who are currently residing beneath the flyovers," Adnan suggested.
He highlighted the need to integrate the policy with sustainable urban living, underscoring the need to convince policymakers that it is a huge urban asset.
"The policymakers must take the local characteristics into account before any formulation of any policy for the overall betterment of the public", Adnan said.
Manzoor Hasan, executive director of the Centre for Peace and Justice at Brac University, and Anowarul Haq, residential representative of UNDP, spoke among others at the event.
Comments