ECNEC approves 2 metro rail projects worth Tk 93,800cr

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved the two metro rail projects—Mass Rapid Transport (MRT) Line-1 and MRT Line-5—at a cost of Tk. 93,800 crore.

The approval was given at an ECNEC meeting held at the Planning Commission, with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair, yesterday.

After the meeting, Planning Minister MA Mannan told reporters the council approved the two MRT projects to help to ease traffic jam in Dhaka.

Of the total cost of the projects, Tk. 68,567.32 crore will be provided by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as financial assistance and the rest amounting to Tk 25,232.60 crore will come from the state exchequer.

The Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited will implement both the projects, which would be completed within the stipulated timeframe, said Mannan.

Under the MRT Line-1 project, a total of 31.241 km of route, including the 16.21-km underground from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Kamalapur via Badda, the 11.36-km elevated route from Kuril to Purbachal Depot via Notun Bazar and the Jamuna Future Park, would be constructed by December 2026.

According to the proposal, a total of 20 km route—6.50 km would be elevated from Hemayetpur to Aminbazar and 13.50 km would be through an underground from Aminbazar to Bhatara—is expected to be completed by December 2028.

The MRT Line 5 has been divided into two routes- northern and southern.

 The total cost for the MRT Line 5 project has been estimated at Tk 41,238.54 crore of which Taka 12,121.49 crore will come from the state exchequer and grants while Tk 29,117 crore as project assistance from JICA.

The length of the northern route is 20 kilometers of which 6.50 kilometer would be elevated from Hemayetpur to Aminbazar while 13.50 kilometers from Aminbazar to Bhatara would be underground.

The MRT Line-5 route would start from Hemayetpur and end at Vatara via Aminbazar, Gabtoli, Mirpur-1, Mirpur-10, Kochukhet, Banani, Gulshan-1, and Natunbazar. It would be constructed by December 2028. The stations of the MRT Line-5 would be at Hemayetpur, Baliapur, Bilamalia, Amin Bazar,Gabtoli, Dar-us-salam, Mirpur-1, Mirpur-10, Mirpur-14, Kochunkhet, Banani, Gulshan-2, Notunbazar and Vatara.

Sources say the government plans to set up strong metro rail links with six routes by 2028.

Dhaka is one of the most densely populated cities in the world with about 43,500 people per sq km. The Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) had prepared a 20-year strategic transport plan (STP) in 2005 to develop an efficient, integrated and modern transit system in and around the capital.  Under the STP, five mass rapid transit (MRT) and two bus rapid transit (BRT) lines were proposed, while the MRT Line and BRT Line-3 are being constructed.

 

ECNEC approves 2 metro rail projects worth Tk 93,800cr

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved the two metro rail projectsMass Rapid Transport (MRT) Line-1 and MRT Line-5at a cost of Tk. 93,800 crore. The approval was given at an ECNEC meeting held at the Planning Commission, with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair, yesterday. After the meeting, Planning Minister MA Mannan told reporters the council approved the two MRT projects to help to ease traffic jam in Dhaka. Of the total cost of the projects, Tk. 68,567.32 crore will be provided by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as financial assistance and the rest amounting to Tk 25,232.60 crore will come from the state exchequer. The Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited will implement both the projects, which would be completed within the stipulated timeframe, said Mannan. Under the MRT Line-1 project, a total of 31.241 km of route, including the 16.21-km underground from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Kamalapur via Badda, the 11.36-km elevated route from Kuril to Purbachal Depot via Notun Bazar and the Jamuna Future Park, would be constructed by December 2026. According to the proposal, a total of 20 km route6.50 km would be elevated from Hemayetpur to Aminbazar and 13.50 km would be through an underground from Aminbazar to Bhatarais expected to be completed by December 2028. The MRT Line 5 has been divided into two routes- northern and southern. The total cost for the MRT Line 5 project has been estimated at Tk 41,238.54 crore of which Taka 12,121.49 crore will come from the state exchequer and grants while Tk 29,117 crore as project assistance from JICA. The length of the northern route is 20 kilometers of which 6.50 kilometer would be elevated from Hemayetpur to Aminbazar while 13.50 kilometers from Aminbazar to Bhatara would be underground. The MRT Line-5 route would start from Hemayetpur and end at Vatara via Aminbazar, Gabtoli, Mirpur-1, Mirpur-10, Kochukhet, Banani, Gulshan-1, and Natunbazar. It would be constructed by December 2028. The stations of the MRT Line-5 would be at Hemayetpur, Baliapur, Bilamalia, Amin Bazar,Gabtoli, Dar-us-salam, Mirpur-1, Mirpur-10, Mirpur-14, Kochunkhet, Banani, Gulshan-2, Notunbazar and Vatara. Sources say the government plans to set up strong metro rail links with six routes by 2028. Dhaka is one of the most densely populated cities in the world with about 43,500 people per sq km. The Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) had prepared a 20-year strategic transport plan (STP) in 2005 to develop an efficient, integrated and modern transit system in and around the capital. Under the STP, five mass rapid transit (MRT) and two bus rapid transit (BRT) lines were proposed, while the MRT Line and BRT Line-3 are being constructed.