published_or_final_version / Urban Planning / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

published_or_final_version / Urban Planning / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

published_or_final_version / Urban Planning and Design / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

The concepts and definitions of housing affordability vary depending on the economic and social contexts of specific countries. However, irrespective of the context, housing affordability is not only influenced by the market conditions, but also by the prevailing policy environment, among other social and economic factors. The impact of the supply-side instruments of the policy environment, such as the regulatory regime, on the provision of affordable housing and housing affordability has been widely studied mainly in the context of developed or richer developing countries where strong regulatory and institutional frameworks exist. Little has been done in the context of developing countries with weak regulatory and institutional frameworks. This dissertation pioneers a study of this kind in the context of Bangladesh. It aims to investigate the housing affordability problems of the middle-income groups in Dhaka and to identify the underlying supply-side causes of the policy environment. A qualitative approach is adopted for this research. The social constructivist paradigm combined with the interpretive type of narration has been engaged as the research strategy. Both the ratio and residual-income based approaches of measuring housing affordability are used. Working definitions of housing affordability and income groups are also developed. Primary and secondary data were collected using various approaches such as document analysis, questionnaire survey and interviews. This study reveals that the formal housing market in Dhaka failed to provide affordable housing for the middle-income groups. The price-to-income ratio in Dhaka is one of the highest among the major South Asian cities. The middle-income groups struggle to maintain a minimum standard of living and largely rely on rental housing. However, rents are also unaffordable to them and Dhaka has the highest rent-to-income ratio in Asia. The housing units in the informal settlements could be affordable to them, but their social status inhibits them from living in these settlements. The regulatory and infrastructure development regimes are found to be non-enabling. Existing land-use regulations encourage land hoarding and land value speculation. Despite the weak urban growth control, the land price is very high and the land-supply fails to meet the demand. Further, the planning permission processes for residential development are significant time and cost inflators. Investment on infrastructure is not targeted to facilitate residential land supply. Serviced residential land is expensive due to the short supply of residential infrastructures. Institutionally, the non-participatory mode of governance, absence of a clear line of authority, and poor human resources capacities of the related government organizations are the main underlying causes of the non-enabling performance of supply-side regimes. This study recommends pro-active government initiatives to strengthen the enabling functions of the regulatory regimes. Utilization of planning tools such as planning incentives and mandatory contributions of affordable housing in private housing projects are recommended. Infrastructure investment targeting at facilitating residential land supply is suggested. Institutional restructuring and the establishment of a housing data bank are also recommended. This study enriches the literature related to the impact of the policy environment on housing by widening the debate to cover the developing countries. / published_or_final_version / Urban Planning and Design / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Urban Design / Master / Master of Urban Design

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, Department of Geography, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 331-404).

Dhaka is the capital city of Bangladesh and the centre of administrative, political, economic and social life for the country. An efficient transit system is needed in this city to provide services in every corner and to the people of all socio economic standing. This city is characterized by both motorized and non-motorized transport services, though there is a huge demand on the bus transit system. Dhaka is also one of the fastest growing global cities, which is contributing to even higher transit demand. There is a need, therefore, to investigate the present transit system with a view to understand the opportunities and potential of the current public transport system given available policy support and resources. This research is an initiative to identify the current efficiency status of transit services and explore the opportunities to increase the efficiency of this system for the people of this mega city. To carry out this research, along with literature and policy review, interviews with stakeholders and a survey of transit operators was undertaken. From the analysis of the operator’s survey and literature review, the current underperforming status of transit services was identified. From the discussion of interviews and policy frameworks, strategies to improve the current status and guidelines for future initiatives are outlined. This includes a separate and powerful institutional authority solely for transit services and taking regulatory measures by this authority to speed up STP implementation. For bus transit only, the recommendations are: consolidating bus industry and exclusive bus lanes to improve current status of bus transit service. Finally by achieving and fulfilling the recommendations of this study, it is hoped that a more efficient transit system in Dhaka city would result.

The city of Dhaka has grown from a population of half a million to four million in 30 years. As the housing supply has failed to keep abreast of this growth, there is now serious overcrowding in a rapidly deteriorating housing stock. The topography of the city, being surrounded by low lying land liable to flooding, is a serious constraint to growth. The lower income group has been increasingly forced to occupy peripheral, often low-lying land. This thesis examines the housing conditions of the lower income people to be found in pen urban areas of Dhaka; a survey has been carried out of 424 households in three areas of Mirpur, Hazaribag and Jurain and then analyzed with computer. Through an analysis of the current housing stock and the socio-economic characteristics of the inhabitants, the afforbility of future housing options is assessed, with respect to the requirements of reclaiming land liable to flooding and the current speculation in land suitable for development purposes; the response of the dwellers is also examined to ensure their participation in the incremental developments of their units.

Dhaka is the capital city of Bangladesh and the centre of administrative, political, economic and social life for the country. An efficient transit system is needed in this city to provide services in every corner and to the people of all socio economic standing. This city is characterized by both motorized and non-motorized transport services, though there is a huge demand on the bus transit system. Dhaka is also one of the fastest growing global cities, which is contributing to even higher transit demand. There is a need, therefore, to investigate the present transit system with a view to understand the opportunities and potential of the current public transport system given available policy support and resources. This research is an initiative to identify the current efficiency status of transit services and explore the opportunities to increase the efficiency of this system for the people of this mega city. To carry out this research, along with literature and policy review, interviews with stakeholders and a survey of transit operators was undertaken. From the analysis of the operator’s survey and literature review, the current underperforming status of transit services was identified. From the discussion of interviews and policy frameworks, strategies to improve the current status and guidelines for future initiatives are outlined. This includes a separate and powerful institutional authority solely for transit services and taking regulatory measures by this authority to speed up STP implementation. For bus transit only, the recommendations are: consolidating bus industry and exclusive bus lanes to improve current status of bus transit service. Finally by achieving and fulfilling the recommendations of this study, it is hoped that a more efficient transit system in Dhaka city would result.

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 331-404) / xxix, 404 leaves : ill., maps ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Attempts to contribute toward greater understanding of the urbanization process in Bangladesh. Focuses particularly on the rural-urban migration process, explaining the causes of mobility and stability and the consequences flowing from that movement for the wellbeing of migrants and their families. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Geography, 1995