The 29.50-km waterway with a provision for 10 landing stations is expected to be open to passenger vessels by December this year, it was disclosed at a meeting of a government taskforce yesterday, officials said.

The taskforce has been formed to prepare recommendations for maintaining the natural course of the Buriganga and navigability of the Balu and Shitalakkhya rivers. It will also recommend ways of protecting the rivers' environment.

The meeting was held with Shipping Minister Akbar Hossain in the chair. It was attended by State Minister for Land Ukil Abdus Sattar, Editor of the Daily New Age AZM Enayetullah Khan and Editor of The Daily Star Mahfuz Anam.

Shipping Secretary Mohammad Ismail Jabiullah, senior officials of shipping, law and environment ministries and officials of the departments concerned were present at the meeting.

They elaborately discussed the progress achieved in developing the waterway around the city and also focussed on the second phase of the scheme developing a 40-km way from Ashulia to Demra.

Under the second phase, navigability of three near-defunct canals will be restored and construction of 16 more landing stations will be undertaken. The second phase of the project is expected to be completed within the next three years at a cost of Tk 294 crore, officials said.

The meeting was informed that 156 acres of government land lying on both sides of the Buriganga were recovered by demolishing 1,812 illegal structures.

The summary of another Tk 80 crore project has been prepared for beautification of the river banks by constructing walkways and embankments.

A report with detailed suggestions to increase water flow, resist water pollution, construct embankments-cum-roads and develop water transports facilities was submitted in the meeting.

Officials said the report also recommended afforestation along the banks of Turag, Balu and Shitalakkhya under a comprehensive project.