Aiming to fulfill the commitment of election manifesto of 2018 of present government 26.6 acres of land were recovered by evicting 9,892 illegal settlements from the banks of four rivers Buriganga, Turag, Balu and Shitalakshya around Dhaka city from January 2019 to present, says a press release.
A project titled “Installation of Pillars including construction of Bank Protection, Walkway, Jetty, RCC steps and Ancillary Infrastructures on the bank of Buriganga, Turag, Balu and Shitalakshya rivers (Phase II)” is underway at a cost of Tk 848.55 crore with the guidance and assistance of the Ministry of Shipping to protect area recovered on both sides of those rivers’ banks.
The development works includes construction of 52 km of walkways, Bank protection, excavation of embankment, 100 nos RCC Steps, 01 km key-wall, construction of culverts and railings, 409 sitting benches, 10820 boundary pillars, 03 nos Ecoparks, 19 Jetties, 06 longboom excavators, and afforestation. Meanwhile, construction of 3.50 km walkways, installation of 3000 nos permanent boundary pillars, procurement of 06 long boom excavators, and plantation of 1000 trees works have been completed. Besides, tender evaluation work is underway on 15 lots for construction of 24 km walkway.
It is expected that the project will be completed by 2023 at the current pace.
The reconstituted RDPP has been sent to the Ministry of Shipping with a view to building a visionary and efficient shipping system around Dhaka through further surveys to implement the directives of the Prime Minister and the government’s election pledge.
The restructured RDPP includes excavation of embankment, construction of 52 Km walkway, 7562 nos boundary pillars, 80 RCC Jetty, 291 nos Sitting benches, 14 nos heavy Jetty, Parking Yard, 03 Km Road, Eco Park, Boundary wall, Railing, bridge key-wall, 04 ghats in Sadarghat and Keraniganj at a cost of about Tk.1181.10 Crore.
There has been a huge response from the local people, mass media and civil society in the implementation of development on the rescued land by evicting illegal structures around all four rivers of Dhaka city which is increasing the action stimulus in project implementation.
But river occupiers, land grabbers, a handful of selfish, influential people are engaged in the vile task of obstructing the development work through various means. In particular, they are trying to obstruct the development work by planting time through policy propaganda by explaining various media including false cases in the court.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Shipping, BIWTA overcame all obstacles in the development of waterways around Dhaka City to implement the master plan approved by the Hon’ble Prime Minister. In the 3rd phase, survey work has been completed for construction of about 150 km walkway, excavation of 04 rivers, boundary pillars and ancillary facilities, the press release added.
The project has been sent to the Ministry of Shipping for approval as per the survey recommendations. According to the master plan approved by the Prime Minister, if the ongoing 2nd phase and proposed 3rd phase projects are implemented and construction work of permanent boundary pillars, walkways, RCC jetties, Eco parks, afforestation etc are done on 220 km of banks on both sides of 110 km of river there will be transporting passengers and goods in a pollution prevented and visually pleasing environment.
