WHEN Dhaka South City Corporation inaugurated the renovation works of Osmani Udyan in January 2018 with a promise to complete it in 10 months, it was hailed by residents. Three years later, the renovation work is yet to be completed due to repeated changes in plans and slow progress of work, say experts.
According to the city corporation, at first, the project deadline was extended in 2019 and the cost escalated from Tk 54 crore to Tk 89 crore for additional works like setting up food courts, museum, library and better drainage system. Then last year, DSCC Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh said they will set up an underground parking space inside the park, which will be able to accommodate around 200 cars. Now, the project deadline has been extended till June 2021.
According to Dhaka South City Corporation, this seemingly “never-ending” project will drag on for another six months as they are “hopeful” to open the park in July this year. They, however, could not say for sure when the work will finally finish. There are some problems associated with the renovation process.
The renovation process since the first development project proposal (DPP) has not been shared with professionals or the public. Therefore, analyses of the proposed design could not be done by professionals, which is an obligatory process before implementing any planning project.
In addition, delay in implementation is leading to not only extra spending of public money, but it is also depriving people of civic amenities for over two years. The additional structures would occupy considerable amount of space inside the park, which is against the maximum allowable establishment space limit inside a park or public place, according to the existing planning rules and regulations.
There is no reason to tamper with the parks natural beauty as it has been visually and aesthetically a comfortable place for Dhakaites for generations. As such there is no need to add artificial structures — no matter how visually appealing, to supposedly add to its beauty. There is no need to use public funds to supplement this project.
