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Where is the detailed area plan for Dhaka city?

November 28, 2008 00:00:00


It is hard to believe that once a beautiful plan was there to develop Dhaka into a beautiful city with lakes and greeneries, not to speak of well-planned buildings. But the Dhaka Metropolitan Development Plan (DMDP) has gradually been distorted by different quarters. The city, as a result lost its beauty. Non implementation of the DMDP has resulted in mind boggling traffic jams and other problems, we face each day.
The city's residential areas have lost their exclusive character.
One comes across offices, hospitals, educational institutions and even factories in most of the residential areas. Furthermore, even in the apartment buildings built exclusively for modern housing, one can rent office accommodation.
The residential offices have, thus, been opened in the exclusive residential areas of Mohakhali DOHS, Baridhara, Banani, Gulshan, Dhanmondi and Mohammadpur. There is no lane without an office.
The exclusive commercial zones of Motijheel and Dilkhusa were stipulated in the Master Plan of 1959. Later, the Karwanbazar commercial zone came up to meet the growing demand for commercial space. A half-hearted implementations of the DMDP created new problems.
The city is yet to get its Detailed Area Plan (DAP) in practice. This was supposed to be in place several years ago. Such an operational plan would have allowed the authorities to stop the construction of unauthorised structures.
It would also help restore the character of the city according to the plan, the residential or commercial, where it should be. Furthermore, it would help restore the lakes and the greeneries of the city.
Ishrat Sultana
Shantinagar
Dhaka

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