RAJSHAHI,  – Padma riverbank adjacent to the Shaheb Bazar area of the divisional town has turned into an attractive tourist and recreational spot as the Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) recently implemented a beautification project there.

Under the project amusement spots, open stage, gallery, park, bridge, walkway and other need-based infrastructures were constructed at a cost of around Tk 42.2 million.

City Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton during a visit to the site on Sunday expressed his firm resolve to restore the scenic beauty of the river bank and enhance the cleanliness drive in the area to facilitate large numbers of people to enjoy their visit in a comfortable atmosphere.

He inspected construction works of two over-bridges adjacent to the respective sluice gates on the river banks which are being built at a cost of around Taka 94 lakh.

Mayor Liton said the new infrastructure and facilities are encouraging an increased number of people to pass their leisure with families and friends enjoying the beauty of the Padma.

Borokuthi river bank and Lalon Shah River Resort were also decorated with a new look to attract more visitors and facilitate the cultural organisations to arrange various programmes to attract the visitors.

Some renovation works are going on and those works are expected to be completed within the next couple of months.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) has also implemented a riverbank protection project adjacent to the city under which protection works on 2,650 metre areas from Bulanpur to Harupur.

Superintending Engineer Mukhlesur Rahman said river protection works from Harupur to Sonaikandi were completed to protect more than 5.0 km area from erosion.

Bangabandhu Hi-tech Park is also being constructed near the protected area; he said adding that the entire area has become an amusement park upon successful completion of the 5.0km bank protection work.

Apart from this, Rajshahi city has got a new look amid a massive plantation of fruit and forest trees and decorative plants and trees and other beautification works drawing the attention of the commoners, particularly the visitors.

Some 32,446 trees were planted besides creating scores of green zones through councillors, officers and employees of the city corporation. Tree plantation activities on vacant places, road dividers and footpaths are being conducted in the current year. 6,000 flower and other ornamental and decorative tree saplings were already planted till August last, he added.

Now, road dividers and islands on around 24-kilometer roads in the city were greened. Varieties of decorative and beautification trees were planted on the dividers, islands and footpaths of the city’s main roads.

Besides, 7,520 saplings of fruit and herbal trees were distributed among the citizens for plantation through 40 ward councillors to expedite and encourage the social forestry activities.