The government’s proposal to modify Dhaka’s Detailed Area Plan (DAP) has sparked worries among experts, who believe it could worsen the city’s livability. Urban planners, environmentalists, and civic groups have called for a halt to the amendment process, cautioning that it may exacerbate overcrowding and strain the city’s already fragile infrastructure. The changes being considered would raise the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) in numerous neighborhoods, leading to taller buildings and increased density in various areas. While this could be advantageous for developers, it may result in taller, more crowded structures without corresponding improvements in transportation, drainage, and utilities. With Dhaka currently ranked as the world’s third least livable city, such decisions could potentially push it to the edge of collapse.
The existing DAP, which was officially published in August 2022, was designed to ensure a balanced distribution of the population, encourage transit-oriented development, and implement sustainable block-based planning. However, within a year, revisions were made to favor commercial interests, disregarding the customary five-year review cycle. Despite this, real estate developers and many architects have persistently pushed for further changes following last year’s political transition. It is evident that developers advocate for a higher FAR as it enables them to construct larger buildings and generate greater profits. Conversely, urban planners and other experts view FAR as a critical instrument to manage population density, align construction with available services, safeguard residents’ quality of life, and preserve the environment. Therefore, the government’s apparent dismissal of expert opinions and yielding to pressure from developers and architects is disheartening.
Dhaka is currently grappling with a scarcity of open spaces, walkways, water bodies, and basic utilities due to overpopulation and haphazard urban expansion. If the amendments are sanctioned, developers could potentially raise building heights by two to four additional stories, escalating population density in certain regions to 50,000 people per square kilometer, surpassing global standards for livable megacities. Experts have also criticized these repeated changes to the DAP as counterproductive and undermining sound urban planning principles.
It is imperative for the government to resist the influence of real estate developers and prioritize the long-term welfare of Dhaka’s inhabitants. Thorough scrutiny and addressing of concerns raised by urban planners and experts are crucial before finalizing the DAP amendments. Additionally, city planning should be informed by expert insights and harmonized under the National Spatial Plan to effectively manage population density and infrastructure. Without a responsible and forward-thinking strategy, any alterations to the DAP will likely exacerbate Dhaka’s challenges, further compromising its livability and jeopardizing its sustainability as a city.