Economic Reporter :
The Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) has applied to the government for another extension of its Jhilmil residential project, a five-year development scheme that has already passed 18 years, officials said.
The authority of the Jhilmil residential project, in this regard has submitted a proposal to the ministry of housing and public works (MoHPW) for its approval that will help complete apartment-related works, utilities and some other tasks by next December, they said.
The Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) initiated the housing project involving Tk 1.36 billion in 1997 for people of middle and lower income groups who have no houses of their own in the capital.
But over the years, the five-year project for developing plots and multi-storied apartments had been extended five times due to delayed development works.
The project costs have also gone up manifold and now reached Tk 3.35 billion.
The project is situated on 381.19 acres of land at a distance of 2.0 km west of China-Bangladesh Friendship Bridge over the river Buriganga beside the Dhaka-Mawa Road at Keraniganj.
Under the project, 1,774 plots in three sizes (5 katha, 3 katha and 2.5 katha) is being developed and some have already been handed over to the successful applicants while 49.5 acres of land were kept for constructing high-rise apartment buildings.
Officials involved in the scheme, however, blamed a number of factors like delayed procedure of awarding the works, poor response of applicants at the initial stage, changed methodology for earth filling, utility issues and a strong nexus of private developing companies behind the inordinate delays.
Seeking anonymity, a senior Rajuk official said the city development authority hasn’t ensured key utilities like gas and water as yet as the government suspended fresh gas connections to households while Dhaka Wasa does not have the authority to go beyond its jurisdiction.
At the same time, the Rajuk has backtracked from its earlier move to expand the project area for giving it more suitable shape as far as modern and green environment is concerned due to heavy pressure of private developers, he said.
He said the project officials have sought another revision of the housing works, indicating that more time will be required beyond the deadline to complete the accommodation infrastructure.
“Yes, we have sought review of the scheme but we cannot say anything about it unless it is approved by the ministry concerned,” Project Director Abdul Latif Helaly told The New Nation.
He said development of plots has already been finished and plot handover process is underway.
“Physical and financial progress are 85 per cent and 82 per cent respectively,” he said. About the utility connections, he said they have nothing to do with respect to gas due to government suspension while Dhaka Wasa refused to provide water beyond its jurisdiction.
“The Rural Electrification Board (REB) is working to set up its plant there,” he said.
Mentioning various factors for the delays, the PD said it was initially planned to fill up the project area through dredging of the Dhaleswari River but they were forced to adopt bulkhead methodology amid protests of locals and developed the area through mud that they carried from the Meghna River.
“And it is very much time-consuming,” he added.
When contacted, Rajuk Chairman GM Joynal Abedin Bhuiyan said they have moved to encourage private sector through PPP (public- private partnership) to resolve the problems with utilities.
The Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) has applied to the government for another extension of its Jhilmil residential project, a five-year development scheme that has already passed 18 years, officials said.
The authority of the Jhilmil residential project, in this regard has submitted a proposal to the ministry of housing and public works (MoHPW) for its approval that will help complete apartment-related works, utilities and some other tasks by next December, they said.
The Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) initiated the housing project involving Tk 1.36 billion in 1997 for people of middle and lower income groups who have no houses of their own in the capital.
But over the years, the five-year project for developing plots and multi-storied apartments had been extended five times due to delayed development works.
The project costs have also gone up manifold and now reached Tk 3.35 billion.
The project is situated on 381.19 acres of land at a distance of 2.0 km west of China-Bangladesh Friendship Bridge over the river Buriganga beside the Dhaka-Mawa Road at Keraniganj.
Under the project, 1,774 plots in three sizes (5 katha, 3 katha and 2.5 katha) is being developed and some have already been handed over to the successful applicants while 49.5 acres of land were kept for constructing high-rise apartment buildings.
Officials involved in the scheme, however, blamed a number of factors like delayed procedure of awarding the works, poor response of applicants at the initial stage, changed methodology for earth filling, utility issues and a strong nexus of private developing companies behind the inordinate delays.
Seeking anonymity, a senior Rajuk official said the city development authority hasn’t ensured key utilities like gas and water as yet as the government suspended fresh gas connections to households while Dhaka Wasa does not have the authority to go beyond its jurisdiction.
At the same time, the Rajuk has backtracked from its earlier move to expand the project area for giving it more suitable shape as far as modern and green environment is concerned due to heavy pressure of private developers, he said.
He said the project officials have sought another revision of the housing works, indicating that more time will be required beyond the deadline to complete the accommodation infrastructure.
“Yes, we have sought review of the scheme but we cannot say anything about it unless it is approved by the ministry concerned,” Project Director Abdul Latif Helaly told The New Nation.
He said development of plots has already been finished and plot handover process is underway.
“Physical and financial progress are 85 per cent and 82 per cent respectively,” he said. About the utility connections, he said they have nothing to do with respect to gas due to government suspension while Dhaka Wasa refused to provide water beyond its jurisdiction.
“The Rural Electrification Board (REB) is working to set up its plant there,” he said.
Mentioning various factors for the delays, the PD said it was initially planned to fill up the project area through dredging of the Dhaleswari River but they were forced to adopt bulkhead methodology amid protests of locals and developed the area through mud that they carried from the Meghna River.
“And it is very much time-consuming,” he added.
When contacted, Rajuk Chairman GM Joynal Abedin Bhuiyan said they have moved to encourage private sector through PPP (public- private partnership) to resolve the problems with utilities.
