Rejuvenating canals of Dhaka

Find the thesis at: https://dspace.bracu.ac.bd/xmlui/handle/10361/17806

The canals of Dhaka are vanishing; they are victims of a lack of systematic development, but there is still a chance to recompense. A strategically devised plan for the city will help to sustain the cleanliness of the canals. By improving the urban fabric around and along the water bodies, the community's relationship can be rebuilt with the waters through diverse activities.

Dhaka's morphology will only harmonize with urbanization when its water bodies are paid due attention in planning schemes, a mantra that can placate the flooding canals, and bridge the gap between urban and riverine Dhaka.

A TOD is a transit oriented development, with planning schemes accommodating a transit station, commercial offices, public services and residential areas within walkable distance. If we obligate the inclusion of boat stations as a part of the TOD, waterway excavation projects will be conducted regularly, and this will in turn ensure the active use and revival of our waterways. All these positive outputs come in a package. In this endeavor, a community-level intervention is necessary to revive our locales' relationship

Besides a central TOD that incorporates the canal, community transit nodes should also be proposed at regular walkable intervals to facilitate neighborhood commuting using the water body. Such nodes would resemble the characteristics of a public square that accommodates transit facilities for vehicles such as small boats, rickshaws, autorickshaws, and bicycles.

After implementing the strategies at a 500m stretch along the canal, a detailed design was carried out to demonstrate the outcome of these strategies.

Continuing research undertaken during undergraduate thesis under Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed.