Dhaka South adopts Tk1,904cr plan to build 'Smart and Green Dhaka'

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has taken a Tk1,904 crore development plan for the current fiscal year 2026-27 to develop the southern part of the capital as a modern, traffic-congestion-free, green, and liveable city.

Under this plan, special importance has been given to artificial intelligence (AI)-based traffic management, establishing a bus terminal in Kanchpur, development of Dhanmondi Lake and extensive tree plantation, the DSCC administrator and veteran freedom fighter, Md Abdus Salam, told BSS.

He said the DSCC wants to develop South Dhaka as a 'smart and green city' by ensuring environmental balance, a modern communication system, and the aesthetics of the city.

An analysis of the DSCC's development allocation for FY2026-27 shows that a total of Tk1,904.42 crore has been allocated for its development.

In FY2025-26, the allocation for this sector was Tk2,196.40 crore. In the revised budget, it has been reduced to Tk1,707.41 crore.

One of the important aspects of the development plan for the current fiscal year is the construction and development of infrastructure with the corporation's own funding.

This time, Tk806.49 crore has been allocated for this sector. In the last fiscal year, the original allocation was Tk727.16 crore, and in the revised budget, it stood at Tk728.15 crore. Tk79.33 crore more has been allocated for infrastructure development in the current fiscal year than in the previous year.

A large part of this allocation is going to the roads and highways sub-sector. A maximum of Tk526.6 crore has been allocated for this sector in the current fiscal.

Through this, initiatives have been taken to ensure the development, renovation and maintenance of road infrastructure in the south city area as well as safe and comfortable movement of citizens.

However, the DSCC is not limited to conventional infrastructure development under this development plan. Initiatives have been taken to introduce technology-based systems to control traffic congestion in the city.

Tk40 crore has been allocated for the installation of artificial intelligence-based traffic signals at 22 intersections in the DSCC area with technical assistance from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet).

Abdus Salam said the use of technology in modern city management is no longer a luxury, but a necessity.

"If AI-based traffic signals can be operated by analysing the pressure and movement of vehicles, it will reduce traffic congestion and save valuable time for city dwellers," he said.

The administrator said another major initiative in urban transport management is the preparation to shift the Sayedabad Inter-District Bus Terminal to Kanchpur.

As per the prime minister's instructions, Tk40 crore has been allocated in the current fiscal year for the development of the platform, shed, ticket counter, and toilet of the Kanchpur bus terminal, he said.

DSCC officials said if the activities of the inter-district bus terminal can be shifted to Kanchpur, the entry and movement of long-distance buses within the capital will reduce.

This will not only control traffic congestion but also reduce the pressure of vehicles on the city's streets, they said.

The issue of the city's environment and citizen entertainment has also been given importance in this year's development plan.

Tk45 crore has been allocated for the infrastructure and environmental development and beautification of Dhanmondi Lake. This allocation will be spent on making the lake more aesthetic and citizen-friendly, as well as maintaining its ecological balance.

The DSCC administrator said urban development should not only mean the construction of roads and buildings.

"Citizens' right to walk, recreation and a clean environment must also be ensured. For this reason, the development of open spaces and green areas of the city, including Dhanmondi Lake, is being given importance," he said.

Along with 'Smart Dhaka', great importance has also been given to the plan to build 'Green Dhaka' this time. Tk7 crore has been allocated for tree plantation in FY2026-27.

Under the National Tree Plantation Programme, a target of extensive tree plantation has been set in different areas of the DSCC.

Already, trees and grass have been planted on the medians of various roads under the 'Zero Soil' programme. In addition, initiatives have been taken to beautify those by leasing various medians through advertisements from the DSCC's revenue department.

To make the tree plantation programme more sustainable, a permanent nursery has been set up in Osmani Udyan under the supervision of the DSCC, the administrator said.

He said about 1,400 small, medium, and large-sized saplings have already been collected there. The target is to produce 15,000 to 20,000 saplings of various species from this nursery next year.

Apart from the nursery in Osmani Udyan, Abdus Salam said, the process of setting up another nursery is also underway on the south side of Nagar Bhaban.

As a result, he said, in the future, DSCC's own nursery will create an opportunity to supply the necessary saplings for tree plantation in different areas of the city.

Abdus Salam said that to make Dhaka South City green, it is not enough to take up big projects, but trees should also be planted in a planned manner in road medians, parks, open spaces, and around various institutions.

For this reason, initiatives have been taken to establish DSCC's own nursery and produce the necessary saplings, he said.

"We want a Dhaka where development is visible, communication is modern, the environment is green, and citizens can live comfortably. To this end, along with development projects, citizen participation must also be ensured," he said.

The DSCC administrator further said the benefits of urban development will be permanent only when citizen awareness and responsibility are added to it.

"The city dwellers will also have to take responsibility for protecting the roads, sidewalks, parks, lakes or greenery," he said.

In this year's DSCC development plan, a large amount of money is being spent on road and infrastructure development, and equal importance has been given to technology, environment and citizen amenities, he said.

Abdus Salam said the goal of development will be to make people's lives easier. "For that purpose, work is being done by integrating all sectors from roads to traffic, environment to entertainment."