Dhanmondi will turn densely populated within five years with 395 dwelling units per acre, if the current building trend continues, an urban expert said.
Dhanmondi's density will then be higher than Jhigatola, Sabujbagh and even Kamrangirchar areas, he predicted.
The gross density of Dhanmondi is 240 dwelling units per acre against the global standard of 120 according to the livability index now.
It is predicted that the net density will reach 395 per acre at the matured stage of Dhanmondi, mentioned Ashraful Islam, project director of Revised Detailed Area Plan.
He said all the development activities are Dhaka-centric as there is no inclusive planning for achieving SDG which will soon take the city at a situation of 'diseconomy of scale'.
Citing an example, he said there are proposals for five metro, two BRT, six elevated expressway and two ring road projects in Dhaka.
Three metro projects MRT1, MRT5 and MRT6 will cost Tk 0.25-million crore.
But the planning should be for 84-per cent people living in one-storey rooms in this city, he suggested.
Mr Islam made the views at a training programme on 'Urban Planning, Development and Management' for journalists covering urban issues.
Press Institute Bangladesh (PIB) organised the training for members of Nagar Unnayan Sangbadik Forum.
He warned that no government project will be beneficial for citizens if the population is not controlled immediately by stopping migration to the city.
Dhaka's urbanisation will be reduced by 10 per cent in the next 10 years while the highest rate of urbanisation will take place in Gazipur during the period.
An estimated 13,900 acres are still vacant with the approved housing projects, the urban expert continued.
Referring to the Rajuk area, Mr Islam said 97-per cent buildings have one to five storeys, total road 5.15 per cent against the standard 25 per cent with a length of 13,898 km.
Only 10 per cent roads have 20 feet width, he added.
The gross density of Dhaka North City Corporation is 284 (70,184 people per sqkm) and net density 393 (97,071 people per sqkm).
On the other hand, Dhaka South City Corporation has a gross residential density of 351 per acre (86,697 people per sqkm) and net density 500 per acre (0.12 million per sqkm).
Lalbagh has the highest density of population in the world followed by Chawkbazar and Kotwali.
Yet, Lalbagh is not vulnerable as per the mathematical analysis, said Mr Islam.
"Lalbagh is not that vulnerable for emergency response during any accident as most buildings are one-storey and there are two big open spaces like Lalbagh Fort and National Eidgah."
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