By Kabir Ahmed Khan

DHAKA, Dec 28, 2023 (BSS) - Seventy percent works of the project to protect rivers surrounding the capital Dhaka was completed to return life to the rivers including Buriganga, Turag, Balu and Shitalakkhya as construction of three eco-parks and 25km walkway has already been completed.

The rest of the work will be completed by June 2024, the project officials said.

Among the 7,500 permanent border pillars covering an area of 220 kilometers on both banks of the rivers surrounding the capital, about 5,500 pillars have already been installed while 25 km of the 52 km walkway is now visible.

Installation of pillars on the banks of Buriganga, Turag, Shitalakshya and Balu rivers, protection of banks, construction of ancillary infrastructure including walkways and jetties (Phase-2) (1st Revised) project director Abu Zafar Mohammad Shahnewaz Kabir spoke to BSS about the project.

 He said that since the beginning of the second phase of the project in July 2018, as many as 11,000 illegal structures of river encroachers were demolished in 2019 and 2020 and about 350 acres of occupied land were recovered.

The work of implementation of river bank protection project with about Taka 1181.10 crore is underway for sustainable river protection, he said.

Of the 52 km walkway, key-wall will be 10km, walk on pile or pillar shape will be about 18 km to keep free flow of water in the low-lying areas around Dhaka and the remaining 24 km will be slope shape, he said.
 
As per the target, eight out of 14 RCC jetties have been completed, 45 out of 80 RCC staircases are now visible.

Besides, works of three eco-parks have been completed in Dhaka, Tongi and Narayanganj river port areas which are offering people coming to the river banks to enjoy a green environment.

At the same time, three of the four ghats for crossing rivers by boat at Sadarghat and Keraniganj have been completed.

Talking to BSS, State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said once the project ended, rivers around the capital will return to its own form and will be permanently free of encroachment and safe.

Commercial activities will be expanded around the rivers having green environment on both banks and this living entity of nature will regain its original form as Dhaka dwellers will get its benefits forever.

The project officials said the route of the walkway is from Kamarpara to Dhaur and from Eastern Housing to Gabtali-Rayerbazar-Babubazar-Sadarghat-Fatulla-Nitaiganj Khalghat to Premier Cement area to DPTC and Godnail area, Sultana Kamal Bridge to Kanchpur Bridge and Tongi river port areas.

Initially, three eco-parks, recreation centers, benches, food courts and toilets are being constructed along with walkways.

According to sources, the entire cost of the project 'Establishment of pillars, construction of ancillary infrastructure including pier protection, walkways and jetties (Phase 2) on the banks of Buriganga, Turag, Shitalakshya and Balu rivers in Dhaka, Narayanganj, Gazipur and Dhaka Metropolitan Areas' comes from the government fund as Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) is implementing it.

A decision was taken from the Prime Minister's Office on October 14, 2014 to take steps to build walkways on the banks of the river around Dhaka city.

Later, a meeting was also held on April 9, 2015 with the premier's principal secretary in the chair.

In this meeting, it was decided to continue the construction of walkways on the banks of the rivers around Dhaka to keep them free from illegal encroachment.

In view of this, a 20 km walkway has been constructed in the 1st phase on the banks of the circular waterway around Dhaka city.

The project was proposed by the Ministry of Shipping to include a 52 km section in the 2nd phase which is currently underway.

The project has already been revised once. The revised project implementation period is from July 2018 to June-2024. The estimated cost of the revised project will be Taka 1181.10 crore.