Cities Around the World: Lessons for Dhaka

As major cities struggle with overcrowding, housing shortages, traffic congestion and rising land prices, countries around the world have developed satellite cities and new towns around their major urban centres. The aim is to distribute population, housing, jobs and services beyond the main city and create more balanced urban growth.
In the United Kingdom, Milton Keynes was developed as a major post-war new town to help manage London’s population growth. Planned with housing, employment areas, roads and green spaces, it was designed to provide residents with many facilities without requiring complete dependence on London.
France also developed several new towns around Paris. Cergy-Pontoise, located about 25 kilometres from Paris, was planned to accommodate population growth outside the capital. Over time, it developed its own identity while maintaining strong links with Paris.
South Korea offers another important example. Bundang, around 24 kilometres from Seoul, was developed to decentralise population from the capital. Its experience highlights the importance of connecting large-scale housing development with transport and infrastructure. Not every satellite city has achieved the same success. Songdo, near Seoul, was planned as a high-tech, modern urban centre combining residential, commercial and business facilities. However, its early years showed that constructing impressive buildings and infrastructure does not automatically create a lively community. A successful city also needs residents, jobs and everyday activities.
These international examples offer both inspiration and caution for Dhaka. A satellite city cannot be created simply by constructing apartments and selling plots. It needs housing, jobs, schools, hospitals, markets, parks, public transport and community facilities.