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Shishu Park renovation delayed

Sabrina Karim Murshed
Renovation of the Central Shishu Park may miss Its proposed deadline, as the project concept paper (PCP) is still lying with the planningcommission.
Sources in the Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) said the project proposal has not yet reached to the Pre-Executive Committee for National Economic Council (Pre-ECNEC) and therefore had less possibility of getting approved in the coming annual development programme (ADP).
"We had a plan to complete the renovation project by 2006 once we had received the funds. However, we have not been able to
begin work even as the PCP was not approved in the 2004-2005 ADR" said a concerned official of the DCC.
When asked the reason behind the delay, the official* said it was the usual scenario with government projects.
"It takes time as the government has to manage so many projects with limited funds. All the projects cannot be approve at a time."
DCC submitted the project proposal with an estimated cost of Tk 92 crore for a complete renovation of the Central Shishu Park last December. It included repairing of old worn out rides and introduction of 16 new items including a roller coaster, a water splash, a giant wheel, a ride called Viking Mars and
bumper cars.
The existing items have already exceeded their life span of 10 years and are deteriorating. There could be serious accidents if precautionary measured are not taken.
"It is impossible for any machine to run properly after ten years," the official said. "Most machines have parts that wear," he said adding that some of the rides were still operational because of strict maintenance by the DCC.
The official said that DCC could still complete the renovation by 2006 provided it received the funds from the government shortly.
"There would not be much of a hassle as the renovation would take place inside the Shishu Park's premises. It is not a huge project like a flyover," he said.
The official stressed on the need for proper advertisement as well as slight extension of the park to make it more popular.
"People should know about it more as they know about private theme parks. If the park is extended a little towards the police outpost adjacent to it then it would be situated just in front of National Museum and could attract more people," he said.
Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation built the park at Suhrawardy Udyan in 1979 and handed it over to the DCC for maintenance. The'num-ber of rides at that time was ten and in 1992 the DCC added the flying plane and flying rocket. Bangladesh Air Force presented another item called the F-6 fighter in 1997.
The country's first amusement park is accessible to all. According to the DCC, at least 5,500 visitors turn up everyday. DCC insiders said the park could earn Tk 18 crore per year after the project is completed.