Dhaka city is destined to be recognized as one of the 10 mega-cities of the world in terms of population size by 2025 when its population is likely to swell to 20 million. Its wayward growth during the last three decades has created innumerable problems such as traffic congestions, water logging, scarcity of drinking water, inadequate power and gas supply, unplanned vertical growth etc. Still it is not altogether unlivable. But it may soon end up with the tag ‘unlivable’ if steps are not taken to reverse the present trends of degradation all around.
Lack of planning has been at the root of Dhaka’s woes. Its grabbed natural drainage channels need urgent restoration to improve the city’s drainage. The present tattered conditions of the city’s roads, dug up in so many places for works by utility bodies in the height of the rainy season, speak volumes about mismanagement and lack of planning in areas considered as crucial for the city.
The city’s water supply will have to be substantially augmented to sustainably cater to the needs of its growing population. The relatively cleaner surface waters from the Padma and the Meghna rivers will have to be piped to Dhaka for the purpose which will call for early planning, mobilization of funds and timely execution of projects.
In the short term, government must go all out for improving traffic policing, keeping road spaces open for vehicular movement, organizing proper parking of vehicles on the roads, ensuring proper signaling at intersections with automatic signaling devices, etc. All of these are likely to considerably improve the traffic mess in the city.
Considering the population concentration in Dhaka as well as its pivotal importance for industries and businesses, a plan needs to be especially drawn up and executed effectively in the medium and longer terms to go on increasing power and gas supply in the Dhaka region in tandem with its economic and residential growth.
Dhaka at present is growing like wild weeds with hardly appropriate segregation between its residential, commercial and industrial areas. This must be absolutely stopped and such mindless sprawls must be reversed. Organizations such as the cantonment, BGB headquarters, Dhaka Central Jail and some others can be considered for relocation well outside metropolitan Dhaka to free spaces for building new roads and other infrastructures. The garments industries, tanneries, etc., should be similarly relocated well outside metropolitan areas under a planned framework for easing traffic congestion.
The exodus of people from rural areas to Dhaka will have to be discouraged by taking up effective plans at the source that would create economic opportunities for people at their points of origin.