The government has launched a comprehensive urban transformation initiative in Narayanganj called the 'Narayanganj Green and Resilient Urban Development Project (NGRUDP), which aims to ensure continuous safe water supply, reduce chronic waterlogging, and create climate-resilient urban services in one of the country's oldest industrial cities.
The Local Government Division will carry out a Taka 1,694.76 crore project in this regard through Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC), with significant funding from the Asian Development Bank.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has already approved the project, which is scheduled to run from April 2026 to March 2031.
A senior Planning Commission official told BSS that one of the NGRUDP's primary goals is to ensure that residents have access to safe drinking water around the clock by maintaining adequate pressure in transmission and distribution pipelines. The plan includes building new transmission lines, expanding distribution networks, and repairing the Godnail Water Treatment Plant and production tube wells.
One of the project's most ambitious goals is to reduce non-revenue water (NRW) from around 65 per cent to 15 per cent. Authorities say this reduction will significantly improve operational efficiency, reduce waste, and ensure equitable water distribution throughout the city.
In addition, new pipelines will be built under DMZ-3 to cover DMAs 5, 6, and 7, including river-crossing pipelines and Induced Bank Filtration (IBF) systems to expand water sources in a sustainable manner.
Speaking about the project at the most recent ECNEC meeting, Planning Adviser Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud stated that the NGRUDP is a major project because Narayanganj has grown into a major city, but its water supply system requires reform.
He stated that water from the Meghna River could be used if the intake point was not too low. In addition, the Shitalakshya River will supply treated surface water. Furthermore, door-to-door water pipelines, which are currently insufficient, will be upgraded, he stated.
Regarding the project title, the planning adviser stated that "green" implies environmental sustainability, whereas "resilient" implies durability. "These names sound appealing, but the primary focus should be on practical implementation."
According to Planning Commission officials, waterlogging has become a recurring issue in Narayanganj as a result of encroachment on natural water bodies and unplanned urbanisation, as even moderate rainfall causes flooding in many neighbourhoods, disrupting daily life and contributing to outbreaks of water-related diseases.
To address this long-standing issue, the project proposes building new drainage infrastructure, repairing existing drains, and restoring canals with proper lining and stilling chambers. Officials believe that these measures will significantly reduce waterlogging, improve environmental conditions, and reduce the incidence of waterborne illnesses.
The project also includes the purchase of necessary drainage-cleaning equipment such as high-pressure jetters, dump trucks, and power rodders to increase NCC's capacity for routine maintenance.
Recognising Narayanganj's scarcity of public recreation and community spaces, the NGRUDP prioritises the establishment of parks, playgrounds, open spaces, and community centres. These facilities are intended to encourage youth development, social cohesion, and healthier urban living.
The project will include the development or rehabilitation of Parks A and B, as well as several public open spaces and playgrounds. Water ATMs will be housed in dedicated sheds to improve public access to safe drinking water.
The project focuses on strengthening the Narayanganj City Corporation's institutional capacity to provide sustainable and socially inclusive civic services. This includes supplying and installing modern information technology equipment, as well as developing long-term master plans for urban planning, sewerage networks, and solid waste management.
With rapid industrialisation and population growth, urban planning has become critical in the district. Officials say the project's master plans will lay the groundwork for a climate-resilient and well-managed city in the coming decades.
The Narayanganj City Corporation was formed in 2011 by merging three municipalities: Narayanganj, Siddhirganj, and Kadamrasul. The city's water supply was managed by Dhaka WASA until 2019, when NCC began operating its own system based on groundwater extraction and surface water from the Shitalakshya river. NCC has already prepared a long-term water supply plan as part of an ADB-supported feasibility study conducted in 2020.
The NGRUDP is expected to modernise core urban services, improve civic amenities, and promote planned urbanisation. Once completed, officials anticipate Narayanganj becoming a more liveable, climate-resilient city with a higher quality of life for its residents.
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