Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) started on Saturday erecting boundary pillars on the banks of the River Buriganga.
It will also build walkways, walkways on pile and key walls under a project to save the rivers surrounding the capital from further pollution and encroachment.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury jointly inaugurated the development work of the river including setting up pillars at a programme held at Kholamoraghat, Kamrangirchar in Dhaka.
A total of 3,803 RCC boundary pillars will be set up in Dhaka River Port area (Sadarghat and its adjoining areas).
Besides, one kilometre walkway, one kilometre key wall and 2.5 kilometre walkways on pile will be built up from Ramchandrapur to Basila and Rayerbazar canal to Kamrangirchar during the first phase of the project (from July 06, 2019 to December 2020).
Out of 3,803 boundary pillars, 2,340 will be single pile type while 1,463 will be double pile type.
The total cost for erecting RCC boundary pillars will be Tk700 million.
Construction of one kilometre walkway, one kilometre key wall and 2.5 kilometres walkway on pile from Basila to Rayerbazar will cost Tk500 million. The work will be completed by June 2020.
Apart from the Buriganga, the BIWTA will also set up pillars, build walkways, key walls on the banks of the river Turag, Sitalakshya and Balu rivers under the same project.
The capital Dhaka is surrounded by the Buriganga, Turag, Sitalakshya and Balu rivers.
The rivers are treated as lifeline of the capital as well as the city dwellers.
It will build 52 kilometres walkway, 12 kilometres walkway on pile of the river banks, 10,820 boundary walls, three eco parks, two tourist-friendly eye-catching parks, 19 RCC jetties, 100 RCC stairs and 40 kilometres key wall for protecting the shores of the rivers (Buriganga, Turag, Sitalakhya and Balu) with other necessary amenities.
Work of the project costing over Tk 8.44 billion will end on June 2022.
Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal warned that punitive action will be taken if anyone tries to encroach upon the river banks any further.
He said circular water ways of the rivers will be built up for smooth travel and transportation of goods.
"The River Burigana will be turned into an eye-catching amusement place within the next few years where people will get pleasure like Hatirjeel," said Mr Kamal.
He said the government is working sincerely to save the rivers surrounding the capital. He called upon all to come forward to protect the rivers.
State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said rivers were encroached upon by a section of people as the state did not take any concrete steps in the past.
"We want to make the River Buriganga free from pollution and useable within the next 10 years," he said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has come forward to save the country's rivers, he added.
Members of parliament Advocate Qamrul Islam, Haji Md Selim, Shipping Secretary Md Abdus Samad, Eminent Columnist and Environmentalist Syed Abul Maksud, chairman of BIWTA Commodore M Mahbu Ul Islam and Project Director Nurul Alam among others were present.
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