River and The City

Rivers have been an important transportation channel in the early history of Asian cities, colonized by the British and used as colonial trading ports used as a navigable and the major transport system in the region with a huge traffic flow. River has always been seen as a sacred place for many religions, for e.g. a dip in the ocean, where the river drains into the sea is considered to be one of great religious significance. Cities like Banaras, Hoogly (India) have adapted itself to this kind of sacred value.

The river provides perennial supply of water to the plain of Bangladesh and West Bengal for irrigation and human & industry consumption. With the exploding urban growth the proper development of waterfronts in Asian cities has become a major issue not just for the livability of the city for its residents but also in terms of branding and positioning that city. Could a public/private partnership help in developing this kind of development?.

It has become a major component of the competitive advantage of the city and requires an approach to design, execution and on-going place management that maximizes the return on investment. The development of Khulna has been turning its back on the river which was once used as a transport medium and a lot of industrial and employment setup along its edge. The planning of the new highway by-passing the city would also be a major drawback in the expansion of the city away from the water edge creating derelict pockets of potential development of industrial lands within the city.