Urban-informality: analysing the present scenario of Dhaka city and approaches towards the control and betterment

Abstract

The metamorphosis of urban informality challenges the formalization of the traditional design and planning processes of a city. This paper discusses the rapidly changing variation of informal uses of open urban spaces and its impact on urban life in the context of Dhaka, Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, a significant percentage of urban population resides below poverty line which is quantified as 21.3%. A portion of these urban poor is identified in official planning process as spatially delineated slums, industrial zones, riverbanks etc.; whereas a considerable part is found to be living beneath open sky within rail stations, on footpaths, foot-over bridges, parks and below fly-overs, denoted as floating people. These urban poor are trying to earn their livelihood often occupying the urban public spaces through various informal practices and consequentially this informal nature begins to co-exist with formal urban system. The study undertakes a reconnaissance survey and comprehensive analysis of two different categories of urban spaces in Dhaka. Within this context, the paper investigates the dynamic informal growth as well as the push factors behind the emergence of this situation. This paper attempts to delineate the present scenario of urban informality and the impact of that on the formal uses of those urban spaces. It shows that the informal uses either equal or outnumber the formal and designed uses. It is high time to make urban planning and design inclusive of these volatile factors and initiate a comprehensive strategy to mitigate the chaos of the current situation of Dhaka. The informal users are now a vital part of this city who cannot be neglected and deserve an alternative perspective of humanitarian approach. However, for long term planning, it is crucial to ensure less congestion of informal users in urban spaces since this organic and rapid growth pattern may arise immense planning related problem for the capital city in the future. Finally, an attempt has been made to provide some direct and indirect approaches to cope with these situations encouraging to control the issues responsible behind the negative impact.