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RAJUK Officials Detail Block-Based Shift Under New Dhaka Area Plan
City authorities and planning experts point to the finalized DAP and linked projects as the framework guiding neighborhood changes.
How we reported this
RAJUK has advanced a new Detailed Area Plan covering 2022 to 2035 that introduces block-based development across 1,528 sq km in place of the prior plot-based system.
The change arrives as housing demand grows in the capital and authorities seek coordinated growth rather than piecemeal approvals. Officials note that the block approach allows better provision of roads, utilities and open spaces within larger parcels, a point stressed in the plan documents released through RAJUK channels.
Purbachal and Old Dhaka Projects Take Center Stage
Purbachal New Town covers 6,227 acres between the Shitalakhya and Balu rivers and is positioned by RAJUK as the largest planned community under its oversight, with more than 25,000 residential plots listed as available. In parallel, RAJUK has put forward a Tk5,258 crore revitalization scheme for Old Dhaka across 6,500 acres that would replace older structures with modern social housing while reserving 60 percent of the land for open spaces, with work scheduled from July 2027 to June 2030.
Experts tracking these sites say the two projects together signal a deliberate move to balance expansion on the eastern fringe with renewal inside the historic core. They note that both initiatives fall under the same DAP umbrella, giving planners a single reference document for infrastructure sequencing and land-use rules.
Price Signals and Transit Corridors Draw Attention
Market observers report that emerging zones such as Purbachal, Jolshiri and Aftabnagar currently list entry prices between BDT 4,500 and 8,000 per sq ft, though they caution that infrastructure delivery there will take longer than in established districts. In contrast, upper-mid areas including Uttara and Dhanmondi recorded 10 to 14 percent annual appreciation during 2026. Property values near stations on MRT-6 and the Dhaka Elevated Expressway have risen 10 to 12 percent faster than locations farther from the corridors, according to analysts monitoring transit-oriented development in Uttara, Mirpur and Badda.
Officials and consultants involved in the DAP process advise buyers and developers to review the block layouts and open-space requirements before committing to plots. They recommend checking RAJUK gazette notices and project timelines for Purbachal and Old Dhaka to align purchases with the scheduled infrastructure phases rather than relying on short-term price movements alone.