CDA wakes up to fight unplanned urbanisation

Kabiraj Building. PHOTO: Star File Photo

The high-rise buildings are Akhteruzzaman Tower, Ayub Building, Century Tower and Moula Building at the Agrabad Commercial Area. It also fined Tk 10,000 several individuals for blocking the footpaths and roads with construction materials, they said.

CDA is also planning to demolish 40 age-old buildings, including Kabiraj Building at Alkaran area, which many experts feel should be preserved as heritage.

Magistrate Tahera Ferdous led the CDA team on the first day.

The CDA has started the drive with a view to helping proper urbanisation of the port city, sources said.

It has also a plan to demolish 40 dilapidated buildings that pose a threat to the life and property.

Construction of structures in violation of Building Construction (BC) rules was seriously hindering planned urbanisation, sources added.

Earlier, the CDA formed a five-member vigilance team to put a check to the trend of illegal construction. The team would conduct the drive against such illegal buildings on every Tuesday that started on August 9.

The CDA prepared a list of over 400 buildings, which were constructed violating the rules. It also asked the owners for bringing reforms in their structures according to the approved designs to avoid CDA action, they said.

Sources said, high-rise multi-storied buildings with insufficient parking space hampered not only smooth movement of traffic, but also obstructed necessary expansion of the city roads and intersections.

Besides, such buildings have their access ramps descending on the road disregarding the rights of pedestrians and the neighbours of the locality, they said.

The CDA team comprises a town planner, an authorised officer, an area planner and an investment planner.

Most of these buildings are located at Firingee Bazar, Patharghata, Rumghata, Hemsen Lane and Kapashgola areas, sources said.

There are 72 buildings on the demolition list. Of them, 32 at Anderkilla area were already demolished to facilitate implementation of the Anderkilla intersection and road expansion project, sources said.

The CDA team, however, had to refrain from conducting the drive against construction irregularities on the second day yesterday as its magistrate was out of office due to sickness.