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HOUSING

Rupayan takes Dhaka outside Dhaka

Sarwar A Chowdhury
"Home! Sweet Home!" Not only a famous song, but it also describes the hopes and dreams of many who aspire to own a home.
Such aspirations are more reflected in the hearts of people who reside in rental homes, wishing to own a permanent address. But it is difficult for a member of tire middle of lower-middle income group to purchase an abode, owing to high property prices and prolonged payback periods.
Rupayan Housing Estate, one of the leading realtors in Bangladesh, has come forward with such a housing project that will fulfil the dreams of the middle and lower- middle class people.
Rupayan's latest project in Narayanganj, adjacent to Dhaka, is a catalyst to setting up an extended capital city downtown, after Uttara, which is now considered a part of the capital.
Uttara is the outcome of an initiative taken by the then government in 1974. The then government also planned that some five downtowns or suburbs will be set up surrounding Dhaka. However, such plans were not re-initiated by the successive governments.
"There is not even a hint of such a development in the present Dhaka Metropolitan
Development Plan or Detailed Area Plan," says Sadat Hossain Salim, managing director of Rupayan Housing Estate.
"Dhaka is no longer a liveable city. It is one of the most densely populated cities in the world, with around two crore people inhabitants at present," he says. "People are restricted to this one city for work, residence, shopping needs and entertainment."
"The civic facilities required for a human being to live in a society are limited in Dhaka, " he says.
If the city is not decentralised or several downtowns established in and around 50 kilometres of Dhaka, the view of the city will be unimaginable in the days to come, Salim says.
"We have set up the satellite town with these concepts in mind, where all housing and social facilities such as shopping malls, schools, mosques, hospitals, playgrounds and community centres are available," he says. "My goal is to take Dhaka outside Dhaka."
However, he says, the government will have to facilitate the private sector to invest outside Dhaka.
The project, 'Rupayan Town' at Bhuigar, off the Dhaka-Narayanganj link road, stretches over 19 bighas of land.
Rupayan is now offering ready flats in
different sizes ranging from a minimum of 660 square feet to a maximum of 1,120 square feet at Tk 2.990 a square feet.
A customer can avail the key to a flat with an initial down payment of just Tk 4.14 lakh.
"We have designed the project for the middle and lower-middle class people, who mostly live in rented flats. They spend a substantial amount on monthly rent," Salim says.
"Following the down payment, buyers can pay the rest of the money through instalments. They can make the payments with the amount they previously spent on rent," he says.
"Besides, we have arrangements with some financiers that will provide loan to our customers," he says.
Delta Brae Housing. IDLC Finance, National Housing, Phoenix Finance, Bay Leasing, Southeast Bank and Pubali Bank are proving housing loans to prospective customers.
Although the real estate and housing sector witnessed a 35 percent drop in sales in the first three months of 2009 as a consequence of the global financial crunch. Rupayan is optimistic about its new township project.
It held a single company fair in the first week of this month to showcase the ready
flats under the Tk 300 crore Rupayan Town, which comprises 28 eight-storied buildings with 784 flats in the first phase.
The Rupayan Town includes facilities like a full-time generator for electricity backup, and its own water supply and sewerage system.
Around 200 flats have been sold so far and many prospective customers are contemplating purchase.
Although most buyers are based in Narayanganj, Rupayan is optimistic about selling flats to Dhaka-based customers. A good number of people from Moujheel and its adjacent Basabo and Mugda areas have booked some flats.
"We will begin the second and third phase of the town after the sales of first phase flats. In the second phase 1,100 flats will be built, and 800 flats in the third phase," Salim says.
He says if the government reduces land registration fees and allows investment of undisclosed money in the real estate and housing sector, the sector will witness a boom.
"Besides, our success in the construction of readymade flats outside Dhaka will encourage other realtors to invest in the suburbs," he concludes.
sarwar@thedailystar.net