Talha Bin Habib
The government has planned to build flats for rehabilitation of slum dwellers and limited income group of people at Bhashantek in the capital from the next fiscal year (FY 2012-13) following cancellation of the construction deal with a private firm, officials said.

After the cancellation of the deal, the Ministry of Land (MoL) has proposed to the Ministry of Housing and Public Works (MoHPW) for the construction of the flats. The MoHPW has got the approval from the Ministry of Finance (MoF) on liquidity certificate and recruitment of manpower for the project.

There would be an inter-ministerial meeting chaired by the secretary of MoHPW. The meeting would recommend the project for final approval of the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) through Project Evaluation Committee (PEC) under the Ministry of Planning (MoP) that would pave the way for staring the project work.

The project titled "Construction of Residential Building for Rehabilitation of Slum and Low Income Group of People at Dhaka City" would be implemented by the National Housing Authority (NHA) under the MoHPW. The project is being approved by the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK).

"Once we get ECNEC's approval, then it will be possible for the procurement of works and related services," Superintending Engineer of Dhaka Circle SAM Fazlul Kabir told the FE Sunday.

He said the NHA would bear the project cost from its own fund.

He said that the selected applicants intending to purchase the flats would be able to do it in two phases of payment with installment facilities.

They will have to pay 50 per cent of the total amount of flat value at the first phase of the payment. It would be possible to pay the rest 50 per cent within next 16 years.

The rehabilitation project for the slum dwellers was undertaken in 1998 on 47.90 acres of government khas land at Bhashantek.

The government has received 1,461 applications for the flats. Out of the number, 841 applications were selected primarily, a high official of the MoL told the FE.

Under the construction plan, there would be A type buildings. The number of the buildings are 54. Each building would have 144 flats and the total number of flats would be 7,776.

On the other hand, the number of B type buildings would be 57. Each of the building would have 96 flats. The total number of flats would be 5,472.

Each of the A type of flat having 215 square feet would have single room with kitchen and bathroom facilities. The cost of each flat has been fixed at Tk 0.2 million.

On the other hand, each of the B type flat would be 395 square feet with one room having kitchen and bathroom facilities. The price of such a flat has been fixed at Tk 0.355 million.

Asked on the possible price hike of the flats, Mr Kabir said the prices may go up double considering the surging prices of construction materials and increased rate of land prices.