Experts strongly suggest developing a policy on allowing cities to construct infrastructures based on population density.
They suggested ‘Designing Population’ based planning for infrastructure development in all cities and municipal areas in Bangladesh.
In order to save the capital from further influx of population, they urged everyone, including the policy makers, to take effective measures to create employment opportunities in other parts of the country through proper planning and decentralization of administration.
“There is no alternative to development control and reduce population density to save Dhaka city, which is becoming more inhospitable day by day,” said Dr Adil Mohammad Khan, General Secretary of Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP).
Dr Adil, while sharing his views with this correspondent, said, “The standard population density for a big city is 70 to 80 persons per acre, which can be at most 120persons per acre in central town. The population density is less than 90 per acre in Tokyo, 58 in Sydney and less than 80 in Singapore, which is known as the city of high-rise buildings. The population density of all planned cities is below 80 per acre.”
Comparing different areas in Dhaka with population density of different cities of Europe, including neighboring country India, he said, “Lalbagh and Chawk Bazar in Dhaka have a population density of 600 to 700 people per acre, which is the highest in the world. Besides, the infrastructure and living standard in these areas are inadequate by all standards and indicators.”
He also said, “Application of Floor Area Ratio (FAR) is one of the ways to control development. The development activities of Dhaka city have been going on improperly with the enactment of Metropolitan Building Construction Rules 2008.”
Reviewing the FAR, it is noticed that the FAR is in Mumbai is 1.33-3, while it is 3.15-8.5 in case of Bangladesh.
In addition, about 40-50 percent buildings in Dhaka are one-storey to three-storey. At the same time, Purbachal will become in hospitable in the future if the population density is not developed as per the planning of BIP.
Planner Dr Akhter Mahmud said, “‘Development control’ is one of the three main tasks of RAJUK. Application of FAR is one of the ways to control development. The development activities of Dhaka city have been wrongly improved with the enactment of the Metropolitan Building Construction Rules 2008.”
Dr Akhter, also BIP president, said, “The same value of FAR for the entire city has made Dhaka densely populated city as well as unlivable,” adding, “The result of making such a rule despite not having a clear idea about FAR is that the city has a lot more people than its capacity. And, the transport system, water, gas, electricity, social and other civic services are inadequate for the people.”
He also said, “The most effective way to control and manage population density and urban development is to create an area-based population density map.”
In this regard, he suggested preparing a list to of area-based ‘Development Permit’ for infrastructure in order to reach social and civic amenities to all the people properly.
According to population density standard of Detailed Area Plan (DAP), the gross residence density and net residence density of two city corporations in Dhaka is two to five times higher.
The population density review of Dhaka shows that in the central area of Dhaka, 90 percent area of the city exceeded the capacity if considered150 people per acre.
Besides, at least 63 percent ward capacity exceeds 300 people per acre and 40 percent ward capacity exceeds 400 people per acre.
In case of megacity, population density is taken as maximum 120 people per acre, which is proposed in the draft of Dhaka Structural Plan (2016-35).
