Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has failed to resume the beautification works of a portion of the Airport road’s median in the capital after the renovations were halted in March following criticism from urban planners and architects.
Vinyl World, a private company who had sponsored the renovations from Kakoli to Jahangir Gate on the Airport road, was asked by the city corporation to suspend the beautification works.
Vinyl World Chief Executive Officer Md Abaid Monsur told the Dhaka Tribune: “We have suspended the development work following the directives of the DNCC.”
The private advertisement firm had already completed the renovations from Jahangir Gate to Chairman Bari area, but rest had been left incomplete.
“We are ready to complete rest of the work. If the city corporation would be given us permission, we will do the work as per the DNCC’s advice,” he added.
Contacted, DNCC Chief Executive Officer BM Enamul Haque said: “We are not sure on whether we should continue with beautification project as there we had faced criticism from few architects, urban planners and media persons on the quality of the works.”
“Now, we want suggestions from all of you on what steps we can take in this regard,” he added.
He further added that DNCC was ready to demolish all existing beautification instalments from the Airport road, if they receive a better and acceptable alternative from any organisation or person.
“After receiving much criticism before the ICC T20 World Cup, we have reduced the number of concrete structures and planted trees on the median,” he said.
Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB) former president Mubasshar Hossain told the Dhaka Tribune: “We have just suggested the city corporation to increase plantations on the medians, nothing else.”
“Dhaka has become a concrete jungle, and trees are disappearing fast. Thus, the city’s temperature has been rising continuously and the highest temperatures are witnessed in posh areas of the capital,” he said.
Hossain also added that architects, urban planners have no grievance against the city corporation and any other organisation or person.
“They have just criticised the beautification project since it focused on concrete structures.”
“You can see the median of Manik Miah Avenue, it is full of greens. Does it look bad? There can be no complaints against trees,” he said.
Similarly, Centre for Urban Studies Chairman Professor Nazrul Islam echoed the same sentiment and said the two city corporations should individually form advisory committees including architects, urban planners and art experts.
Meanwhile, the development works of roads, footpaths and drains, which were part of the beautification project for the ICC World T20, have started at different areas of the DNCC area.
Repair and renovation works on footpaths along the Airport road, Rokea Avenue and Kalshi road has been going on although the development works were supposed to be completed before the ICC World T20 to give the capital a facelift for international visitors.
Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) began the beautification work in early February, following approval from the government on January 19.
The Local Government Department approved the Tk115 crore project, with Tk92 crore from the government exchequer and the remaining from DNCC funds.
Under the project, different roads of the capital was identified to be widened, installed with streetlights, traffic signs and road markers and beautified.
Brig Gen Md Abul Khair, chief engineer of DNCC, told the Dhaka Tribune that: “We were given only four-five weeks to complete the tasks. Due to time constrains, we could not complete some of the [beautification] works on schedule.”
He, however, expressed hopes that the works would be completed by March 8.
