High-rise buildings ignore CDA plan

Experts suggested that obtaining "completion certificate" before use of the building should be made mandatory to end this practice by the owners of violating Building Construction (BC) rules.

Besides, inclusion of Floor Area Ratio (Far) in the BC rules is also necessary for orderly growth of high-rise buildings, they said.

Owners show parking spaces in the plans of their structures and get them (designs) approved from the Chittagong Development Authority (CDA), sources said.

But, they hardly follow the designs during the construction. They raise the buildings without the parking space shown in the designs, sources added.

Such a culture made the city at many places a mess, causing unbearable traffic gridlock and resulting in wastage of invaluable time.

Nasirabad at GEC intersection, Shaheed Abdul Halim Sarak, Mehedibag Road, Kazir Dewry, Lalkhan Bazar Ispahani Intersection, Dampara Wasa Intersection, Station Road, Jail Road and Laldighirpar are the areas where the construction of buildings without parking lots is most prevalent.

In some places, the owners tile the sidewalks in front of their buildings or markets along with a portion of roads to use as parking lots. They also engage private security guards to prevent rickshaws or other public vehicles from parking at those areas.

In some cases, the owners keep under-ground parking space in front of their structures that are not spacious enough for movement of either vehicles or the local residents.

Some high-rise buildings along the roads at Mehedibagh, Zakir Hossain Road and Kazir Dewry are the instances of such mindless construction.

Lack of monitoring by the CDA created the scope for flaws during the construction of such buildings, sources said.

Town planner and architect Zarina Hossain said that flaws in construction could have been checked if obtaining a completion certificate was made mandatory for use of buildings.

She said "Absence of Floor Area Ration (Far) in the BC rule encouraged construction of such buildings."

On the other hand, CDA sources said that for lack of manpower they cannot monitor the construction.

CDA, however, has identified some buildings and markets that were constructed violating the approved designs. It issued notices to the owners to develop parking lot and keep adequate space in front of their structures, sources said.

If the owners of such buildings fail to respond positively, the CDA will take action against them as per its provision, said CDA Chief Engineer Shah Muhammad Akhter Uddin.

As per its provision, CDA can demolish the structures constructed in violation of approved design and take stern actions against the owners, he said.

Besides, CDA has planned to take action against those who rented out their buildings for commercial purposes at its residential areas, Akhter said.