Bangladesh's first underground metro rail project has evolved from a major infrastructure initiative into a test of political will and economic decision-making. After nearly 18 months of stagnation, the project has returned to policy discussions, but a critical question remains: should construction start immediately, or risk further delays and rising costs?
Such large-scale infrastructure typically requires around five years to complete. Immediate construction is essential to show visible progress before the next national election.
Adil Muhammad Khan
Urban Planner
Sources from Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) and the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry say the project is showing early signs of revival following leadership changes and renewed administrative focus. Recent coordination meetings and policy-level discussions indicate momentum after a prolonged standstill.
Despite this, work on MRT Line-1, launched in 2022, has largely remained stalled over the past year and a half. Contractual complications and indecision have stalled progress, with some earlier work even regressing.
The MRT Line-1 corridor will span roughly 31.24 kilometres from Kanchan Bridge to Kamalapur, with about 20 kilometres underground. Initial project costs were estimated at Tk 52,561 crore, but following international tender evaluations, projections have surged to nearly Tk 96,500 crore. Rising costs are attributed to global inflation in construction materials, exchange rate volatility, and heavy reliance on imported tunnelling technology.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam said, "The metro rail project had stalled for various reasons. Work has now resumed, and we expect progress to accelerate." Insiders point to disagreements with Japanese financiers over cost structures and contractor claims as additional contributors to delays.
Urban planner Adil Muhammad Khan warned that further delays could undermine the project's political relevance. "Such large-scale infrastructure typically requires around five years to complete. Immediate construction is essential to show visible progress before the next national election," he said. Transport expert Md. Hadiuzzaman of BUET added that metro rail is critical for Dhaka's future mobility.
