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Fund constraints delay park modernisation


Published : 01 Dec 2019 09:02 PM | Updated : 05 Sep 2020 04:11 AM

Though Shishu Park in Shabagh is a well-known spot for children’s entertainment, it has been shut for a long time for modernisation. As a result, children cannot go there to play. To carry out its upgrading, the park was closed in January this year by Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). The work was supposed to have been completed by now, but since that hasn’t happened, a sense of frustration prevails among people.

Park officials cannot say when it will be reopened while others say that it might take a few more years. The DSCC has explained that modernizing is not possible with the funds allocated by the relevant ministry. But the ministry insists that the job must be carried out with the funds provided.

The initiative decision to modernize Suhrawardy Udyan and Shishu Park was taken by the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs and a project worth Tk 2.66 billion was planned with the responsibility given to works ministry.  For Shishu Park, the responsibility is entrusted to DSCC and Tk 732 million was allotted for the park. Tk 10 million was given as consultancy fee for a master plan, Tk 50 million for removing old rides and footpath development and the rest for buying new equipment and to construct underground parking.

The DSCC has begun removing old rides but the ministry is not releasing money. So, development of the park has stopped. At this point, DSCC is forced to take new project and to get approval for it may take months. On Jun 29, 2016, a proposal was made on behalf of DSCC during a meeting presided over by Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq. In the new arrangement, tower challenger, twin roller, roller coaster, sky wheel and Viking were omitted by way of amendments. The DSCC then submitted a Tk 1.53 billion project which was approved in 2018.

Additional secretary of the ministry of liberation war affairs, Mohamamd Sanoar Hossain, said “We cannot give additional money since there is no allotment. We have asked the city corporation to take a separate project.”