The once neglected Padma riverbank adjacent to Shaheb Bazar has now become an attractive tourist and recreational spot as Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) after the recently completed beautification project.
Under the project, amusement spots, an outdoor stage, gallery, park, bridge, walkway and other recreational infrastructure were constructed.
Rajshahi Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton revealed this while talking to the journalists after inaugurating two newly constructed over-bridges on the riverbank adjacent to the heart of the city on Saturday, reports our correspondent Dulal Abdullah.
The city corporation has built the bridges with attractive decoration and colour at a cost of around Tk98.16 lakh to ensure visitors can move comfortably.
Liton expressed his firm resolve to restore the scenic beauty of the river bank and enhance the cleanliness drive in the area to facilitate large numbers of people enjoying their visit in a family friendly atmosphere.
He said the new infrastructure and facilities are encouraging a large number of people to enjoy the outdoors with their friends and families.
Borokuthi River bank and Lalon Shah River Resort also got a facade upgrade with a new look to attract more visitors and facilitate the cultural organisations to arrange various programs to attract visitors.
According to a BSS report, Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) has also implemented a riverbank protection project adjacent to the city under which protection works on 2,650 metre areas from Bulanpur to Harupur was done.
Superintending Engineer Mukhlesur Rahman said river protection works from Harupur to Sonaikandi were completed to protect more than 5.0 km area from erosion.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Hi-tech Park is also being constructed near the protected area; he said adding that the entire area has become a good recreational spot upon successful completion of the 5.0km bank protection work.
Apart from this, Rajshahi city has got a new look amid a massive plantation of fruit and forest trees and decorative plants and trees and other beautification works drawing a large number of visitors.
Some 32,446 trees were planted, creating scores of green zones. Tree plantation activities on vacant places, road dividers and footpaths were conducted. 6,000 flower and other ornamental and decorative tree saplings were already planted, he added.
Rajshahi is considered the greenest city in Bangladesh. Last year, the authorities restricted diesel and petrol run vehicles on the roads which contribute to air pollution. Instead, a large number of battery and gas run vehicles now operate in the city.
Brick kilns were set up far from the city and the existing brick kilns have been upgraded with better chimneys. Toxic black smoke does not pollute the city any more.
A large number of trees have been planted over the last few years in different parts of the city, and flowers have also been planted on road dividers and road sides. Now, the city is full of greenery, and radiates a feeling of tranquillity.
Now, road dividers and islands on around 24-kilometer roads including the Bilsimla-Kasiadanga road in the city is covered in trees. Varieties of decorative trees were planted on the dividers, islands and footpaths of the city’s main roads.