Dhaka can be a very livable place, a wonderful city, if only planned moves are made to make it so
Unplanned Dhaka is at the core of its troubles
Nasim Ahmed
Dhaka, a city of over 15 million people, appears to be bursting at the seams. It presents, almost everywhere, a spectacle of squalor, shanty dwellings, awful traffic congestion, shortage of basic utility services, lack of recreation sites or natural parks and playgrounds, unclean air, intrusion of commercial establishments and manufacturing into residential areas, etc. There are, no doubt, also many islands of opulence or relative neatness amid this overall decadence. But these sights only draw attention to the facts of the citys very skewed developments.
However the problems of Dhaka are still very much capable of a solution. This statement may surprise from the present sights of the citys miserable existence but the prospects are truly there. Dhaka has come to its current apparently hopeless state of existence singularly for the reason of lack of planning.
For examples, it could not take away landfills for dumping its rubbish well outside city limits or to develop a modern system of garbage disposal through recycling ; it could not establish an effective or enforceable zoning system separating commercial, residential and industrial areas ; the ones responsible for its governance failed to ensure expansion of utility services for the city to meet rising demands ; and, most importantly, roads and other travel ways as well as medium of travels were not developed commensurate with the fast rise in the population of the city.
Dhakas problems have been compounded over the years also by lack of strategic planning at the national level to decentralize administration and promote conditions for reasonably uniform economic opportunities throughout the country. From all over the country, mindless migrations to Dhaka have been taking place--out of an expectation of earning a livelihood and better income opportunities -- with the citys present capacities proving hardly enough to withstand the rising pressures from the endless streams of the new arrivals. But notwithstanding these seemingly insurmountable problems, there are still ways of coming out of the very stressed conditions of Dhaka. For this to happen, the first requirement would be starting very keenly or seriously planning at the national level to create strong local governments coupled with greater activities to create local growth centres such as the ones that were envisioned under the upazilla model of the eighties.
Government can facilitate these growth centres under assisted areas schemes to persuade investors to start up industrial and other projects in backward or rural areas away from Dhaka to get the advantage of loans at special concessionary rates, import of raw materials and equipment with particularly lowered duties, long term tax holiday, etc. Enterprising away from Dhaka is likely to flourish from the offer of such concessions and the resulting creation of economic opportunities outside the capital on a large scale leading to easing of the pressure of migration on the latter.
As for one of Dhakas very serious problems, traffic jams, the same can be addressed very well through only relocating some establishments which are keeping occupied a great deal of spaces within the core areas of the city. From their relocation to areas near or adjacent to Dhaka, a healthier and environmentally friendly environment will be also created. The freed spaces can then be used to build roads and other transport related infrastructures to swiftly bring about massive relief to commuters in the city. For instance, The Kamlapoor rail station can be gradually moved out to Tongi and beyond .Alternate rail link with Chittagong and Khulna may also be planned now from Narayanganj. In addition to this the rivers around the city can be dredged to maintain round the year navigability and a riverine transportation system.
The Kawran Bazar market can be moved and a multistoried parking arrangement built there by the Dhaka City Corporation. Dhaka Cantonment may be gradually moved out of the city. This area is a major impediment to traffic movement. If it is moved out to Gazipoor much of the citys traffic congestion will ease. Similarly, the Dhaka Central Jail in the old city can be moved away from its present site that would set free a lot of ground for building roads in the old city areas. The fastest relocation of the tanneries at Hazaribag nearby will free spaces for further road building and the step would be also very environment-friendly. Dhaka is growing haphazardly in all directions. No government sincerely tried to decentralize the activities and relocate various economic activities outside Dhaka. For the sake of very survival we must without delay develop the adjacent districts of Dhaka like Narayanganj, Gazipoor , Tangail, Mymensingh, Narshingdi, Comilla and Brahmanbaria to ease migration pressures on Dhaka.
Dhaka badly needs a rapid transit system. Rapid transits in Dhaka will transport large number of people at high frequency. The extent of rapid transit system varies greatly between cities, and there are multiple transport strategies that can take advantage of a rapid transit system. Dhaka is relatively small .The system can cater to the entire city and suburbs if carefully planned. From the city outlays the commuters moving to Dhaka for various reasons every day can avail other transports like buses, trains etc.
Dhaka city has three rivers around it --Buriganga, Sitalakhya and Turag. These rivers can be again turned into life blood for the city. These rivers need extensive dredging to ensure navigability round the year. The city circular river way can be a very useful communication route. The dredged material can be used to make city protection embankments and on these embankments the city circular road and even surface rail track can be laid.
Various city suburbs planned for domestic dwelling have now become commercial and industrial growth centres. Dhanmondi, Meerpoor, Mohammadpoor, Banani, Malibagh,Rampoora, Mahakhali and Tongi Diversion Road have witnessed mushroom growth of ready made garments (RMG) and various other small and medium capacity industries which consume huge energy legally or illegally impacting upon the quality and quantity of energy supply to other users. Lack of effective coordination among utility providers and absence of metropolitan governance are other reasons for the indisciplined energy supply scenario. Rajuk and Dhaka City Corporation never took the role of city planners or development controllers.
The RMG, leather industries and other industries must be moved out of city areas. RMGs relocated from these areas to outskirts of the city and leather industries to leather complex well beyond the citys limits, will relieve the city from substantial energy load and help the environment immensely.
The above are some of the major things suggested for the revival and renewal of Dhaka city. There are many others. The thing to note is that there are no grounds for total despair. With sound plans and their relentless implementation, Dhaka city can make a turnaround as a beautiful and comfortable city in no time. This prospect is really there.
The writer is a free lance journalist
