Revised DAP is time-befitting

The Detailed Area Plan (DAP) formed by the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) is being revised to keep it up to date.  

Some changes were made in the reformed DAP. Block-based housing, and floor area ratio (FAR) facilities of the owners of integrated plots have been increased. New DAP has given a concession on the height limit of buildings. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has already approved the summary of the revised DAP. It will be published as a gazette this month. 

Sources at the Ministry of Housing and Public Works said professionals and stakeholders appealed to the ministry to review the published DAP. In this perspective, a review meeting was held on March 22 this year chaired by State Minister for Housing and Public Works Md Sharif Ahmed. According to the meeting decision, another meeting regarding the implementation of DAP was held on May 18. RAJUK Chairman Anisur Rahman Miah presided over that meeting. On July 20, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina approved the summary of the meeting in the revised DAP.

A total of 11 reforms were made in the revised DAP. The proposal said 0.5 FAR incentives could be given to interested applicants who want to construct buildings in the RAJUK-approved government and private housing projects for the next three years. As justification, it said these residential areas are developed in a planned manner. At the same time, there are more civic facilities in these planned housing projects than in densely populated areas. For these reasons, incentives have been given to interested applicants.

Besides, a proposal was made to increase 0.5 FAR facilities for the unplanned housing areas of Badda, Demra, Khilkhet, Uttarkhan, Rayerbazar, Savar, and Keraniganj. Similarly, land owners of 1-6 bighas will get 20 per cent incentives and owners of more than 15 bighas land will get 30 per cent incentives in the block-based housing development. For this incentive, the height or width limit of the new buildings will increase.

Some more changes for the block-based housing development have been included in the revised DAP. For example, 40 per cent of the block’s land will have to be preserved for open spaces (Park, playground, greenery). At least 50 per cent of the preserved land will be in one place. Besides, 80 per cent land of the block will have to be considered as the highest land cover. At the same time, according to the DAP proposal (2022-2035) of giving dwelling units (Number of flats) permission, dwelling units could be increased from 15 per cent to 30 per cent in single or joint plot-based housings. The new DAP also proposes to give 0.25 FAR in more than 6 katha of land and 0.50 FAR in more than 10 katha of land. 

Contacted, DAP Project Director Md. Ashraful Islam told this correspondent that after publishing the DAP gazette a meeting was held chaired by the state minister for housing and public works. Stakeholders including businessmen and professionals attended that meeting. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina approved the summary of the meeting. No person was given preference in the revised DAP. It (revised DAP) has tried to bring a balance in Dhaka city.  

Earlier, roads in the residential areas were not handed over to the local government bodies. Now it has been effective. At the same time, block-based housing has been inspired to go to big plots from small ones. If people go to big plots, there will be green space. The new DAP has been revised considering the environmental side, said Ashraful Islam.

He also said DAP will be reviewed every three years considering time perspectives and surroundings. 

Housing and Public Works Secretary Kazi Wasi Uddin told Bangladesh Pratidin that FAR facilities have been increased slightly in the new DAP after meeting with the stakeholders.

“No changes were made in other issues. The revised DAP is time-befititng. It has already come after vetting. It will be finalised after the meeting with RAJUK. Hope, the gazette will be published this month,” he said.

Officials of the Housing and Public Works Ministry said many businessmen have signed agreements before the DAP gazette to construct buildings. They didn’t know FAR facilities would decrease after the gazette. They even didn’t get a specific time after the gazette. For these reasons, DAP has been revised. 

As per the master plan by the government for Dhaka in 1992, Dhaka Metropolitan Development Plan (DMDP) was taken in 1995. In continuation, later in 1996, DAP was prepared. The Ministry of Housing and Public Works published the DAP gazette on July 22, 2010. Later in 2013, the review of the DAP was started. The latest DAP gazette was published in 2022 for 13 years (2022-2035).

@ The article was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on September 14, 2023 and has been rewritten in English by Golam Rosul.