The residential areas in the port city Chittagong are losing its residential character as a huge number of commercial buildings have been built in the port city violating building construction’s rules and regulation.
Consequently, not only the house rent is soaring sky-high but also putting the overall security system of the residential zone to great risk, said townspeople.
Sources said a good number of commercial buildings are mushrooming in 28 residential areas, causing grave concern for city authorities.
Taking it cognizance, Chittagong Development Authority has also conducted a study to identify commercial establishment in residential areas.
Such kind of commercial building covers school, college, university, coaching centre, hospitals, buying house, guest house, beauty parlor and developer company.
The commercial buildings are set up without any kind of approval of Chittagong Development Authority (CDA), said sources.
As many buildings have been built grabbing a portion of road in many areas much to create traffic congestion during rush hours.
During a recent visit in Katalganj area, this correspondent found several commercial buildings have been built there.
A school is running on road 1 while two drug rehabilitation centres named Ark and Dip were also seen there.
Residents alleged that owners of the building turned the family flat into business office in order to get high rent.
Katalganj is the first housing project under Panchliash police station in Chittagong city. The area has 58 residential plots.
The same scenario was found at the Chandgaon Housing Project, the biggest housing project of Chittagong Development Authority.
Apart from this Khulsi, OR Nizam Road Residential Area, Nasirabad Housing Society and Halishahar and Khulshi residential areas have a number of commercial-cum-residential buildings.
Khulshi, one of the posh housing area in the port city, is now turned into a commercial zone where several guest houses, renowned corporate branch offices, private universities and NGO offices have been set up.
Residents said a section of culprits were doing anti-social activities in some guest houses. A few months back, police also detained a number of persons on charges of anti-social activities.
Around 30 coaching centres and several offices are running at OR Nizam Road Hosing Society.
Abdus Samad, security supervisor of the housing society, said traffic congestion was a regular phenomenon in the area for the presence of commercial offices and schools here.
Venting anger OR Nizam Road Residential Area Welfare Association’s general secretary Anwarul Haque Chowdhury told Dhaka Tribune that “Seeing the huge commercial building inside the housing estate it seems that we are living in a commercial territory.”
Town Planner of the CDA Shahinul Islam said: “The CDA has already identified the commercial establishments under the different housing societies in a recent study.”
He also said they would take measures to stop such practice in residential areas.
“CDA has issued a number of notices to the house owners after receiving allegation but the process would delay when the house lords seek time for shifting their office”, he added.
