Traffic thru BGB headquarters demanded

Public access to the Pilkhana BGB headquarters road connecting Sat Masjid Road and New Market would help ease traffic on Mirpur Road, locals said yesterday at a public discussion on proposed new detailed area plan (DAP) of Dhaka.

Residents of Ward 18 (New market, Dhaka University, Elephant Road, BGB headquarters and Jigatola), Ward Councillor Jasim Uddin Ahmed and local business leaders took part in the discussion organised by Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripkkha (Rajuk), the custodian of Dhaka's master plan.

Rajuk in its ongoing efforts to draft a more effective DAP has been organising public discussions in different parts of the capital.

Locals during the meeting said both the Strategic Transport Plan and the existing DAP had recommended the BGB headquarters road in Pilkhana for public use.

Representatives from different businesses demanded a multi-storied market facility with sufficient car parking on the site of makeshift Baku Shah Market.

Responding to a similar demand made by business owners at New Market, Ashraful Islam, project director of the DAP, said reconstruction of a properly planned kitchen market at New market and the adjoining areas with car parking in the basement would add much more value to the commercial area.

Among the common demands voiced by most discussants were allocation of open spaces, playgrounds, solid waste collection station and a community centre in the area under the proposed new DAP.