ECNEC approves three metro rail projects worth nearly Tk2.5 trillion

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Wednesday approved three major metro rail projects in Dhaka with a combined estimated cost of nearly Tk 2.5 trillion, as the government moves to expand the capital’s mass transit network.

The three projects—MRT Line-1, MRT Line-5 Northern Route and the proposed MRT Line-5 Southern Route—were approved at an ECNEC meeting chaired by Prime Minister and ECNEC Chair Tarique Rahman at the Secretariat.

The combined estimated cost stands at about Tk 2,49,746 crore.

MRT Line-1, being implemented with financing from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), will connect Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport with Kamalapur. A revised cost proposal for the project was placed before the ECNEC.

A revised cost proposal was also approved for MRT Line-5 Northern Route, planned from Hemayetpur to Bhatara. Following recent revisions, the combined cost of the two projects is estimated at slightly more than Tk 2.04 lakh crore.

The proposed MRT Line-5 Southern Route will run 17.2 kilometres from Gabtoli to Dasherkandi at an estimated cost of Tk 45,503.77 crore. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and South Korea are involved in financing the project.

The Southern Route is planned to have 15 stations, with the Gabtoli-Aftabnagar section underground and the Aftabnagar-Dasherkandi section elevated.

The projects are part of the government’s long-term plan to expand Dhaka’s metro rail network, improve public transport capacity and ease chronic congestion in the capital.