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Bangladesh is losing US$2.0 billion annually due to mismanagement, illegal occupation and other means of abusing land under 105-kilometre runways or flyovers in the capital, a latest study revealed Sunday.
The losses were estimated considering the socioeconomic, environmental and public health impacts.
The study report was released at an event at BRAC University, organised by the Centre for Inclusive Architecture and Urbanism (CIAU) of BRAC University with the support from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
CIAU executive director architect Prof. Dr. Adnan Zillur Morshed shared the study findings at the event.
According to the study report, various infrastructures like flyovers, elevated expressways, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), U-loops and metro rail were built over the last 20 years to curb and ease traffic congestion in the city.
About 207 acres of land under 105km spread of flyovers in different areas are lying in unlawful occupation, dispossession, misuse, abuse and mismanagement, the study revealed.
Bangladesh first built its flyover in the capital in 2004.
Barrister Manjur Hasan, executive director of Centre for Peace and Justice, Anwarul Haque, Assistant Resident Representative of UNDP, journalist MM Musa and planners, economists and researchers, among others, were present at the programme.
Taking part in the discussion, speakers said it is possible to turn this valuable land under the runways into an asset through public welfare-oriented and public health-friendly planning in Dhaka's socio-economic context.
In the densely-populated Dhaka, it is a waste of valuable urban resources with various negative impacts resulting in socioeconomic, environmental and public health losses of over $2.0 billion annually, they added.
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