The government has taken up a project to construct four-lane roads in 18 new wards under Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC).
Under the project, for the first time, the authorities concerned will also construct a ‘Utility Duct’ which will ensure that electricity, cable TV, telephone, internet services go underground. As a result, there will be no overhead hanging wire tangles. The project will cost Tk 4025 crore.
Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) will be responsible for developing infrastructure in 18 new wards. Through the project, construction and development of roads and sidewalks, walkways on both sides of 13 canals and bicycle lanes will be made.
According to DNCC sources, the project will be implemented in coordination with the Capital Development Authority's (RAJUK), Detailed Area Plan (DAP) and other service agencies' master plans.
The project has been designed in coordination with RAJUK's detailed area plan and 100-year master plan of other service providers. As a result, it is completely different from other projects
Residents of 18 new wards have welcomed the DNCC's initiative. They say that in the last four and a half years, there has been no development in these 18 new wards. Now this initiative of DNCC is commendable. However, in order for the project to be implemented properly, the higher authorities of the DNCC have to take care of it.
Talking to Bangladesh Post, DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam said, “The project has been designed in coordination with RAJUK's detailed area plan and 100-year master plan of other service providers.”
“As a result, it is completely different from other projects. Maximum utilization of every penny of the project will be ensured. If it is implemented, the quality of life of the people living in the new wards will improve,’’ he also said.
In June 2016, the government dissolved Harirampur, Uttar Khan, Dakshin Khan, Badda, Beraid, Dumni, Satarkul and Bhatara Union Parishads and took the areas under DNCC to increase civic services in Dhaka. Then, the city corporation divided these unions into 18 wards.
But for a long time the company has not done much in the infrastructural development of these wards. Roads in most wards are still unpaved, with no streetlights or sidewalks. The canals are full of garbage. Numerous illegal establishments have sprung up on both sides. Several of these canals have recently seen eviction of illegal installations and clearing of garbage.
According to sources in the engineering department of the DNCC, the project was approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) of the government in July last year.
The project is expected to be implemented by December 2022. Under this project, a total of 182 km of roads will be constructed and developed in 16 new wards. The main roads will be four lanes (33 km).
In this regard, the chief engineer of the DNCC Brigadier General Md. Amirul Islam said, “Design work is underway to develop the infrastructure of the canals”.
This project will be implemented by Bangladesh Army. The work of this project will start soon, he added.
About 40 kilometers of two lane road will be constructed. A 97-kilometer 'utility duct' will be constructed to carry electricity, telephone, internet, cable and others underground. The expenditure in this sector will be Tk 743 crore 67 lakh 60 thousand.
233.57 km of sewers will be constructed and developed. It will cost tk one thousand 51 crore 22 lakh 60 thousand. The construction of a sewer per kilometer will cost Tk four crore 49 lakh 29 thousand 900.
There are 13 canals in those 18 wards. The length is about 28.51 km. On both sides of these canals 58.56 km of walkways and cycle lanes will be constructed. The cost has been estimated at Tk 82.56 crore.
Besides, a total of 12,267 LED lights will be installed in these wards. It will cost more than Tk 120 crore 23 lakh 48 thousand. This includes the cost of lamps, poles, cables, switches and accessories.
