Metro rail Gabtoli-Narayanganj to Cost Tk 61,000 Crore

A metro rail project has been planned between Gabtoli to Narayanganj passing through Old Dhaka in order to reduce traffic pressure.

The MRT Line-2 will cover a distance of 35 km with 24 stations, which includes both underground and elevated sections. Work on the project is likely to start in the second half of this year or first half of the next year and it would become operational by 2030.

It would cost Tk 60,837 crore for the construction of the metro rail project. The World Bank is supposed to offer huge financing and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has given its principle agreement for offering loan for the mega project. It will be implemented by DMTCL.

Currently the planning commission is examining the preliminary development plan of the project, which would then be forwarded to the economic relations division for foreign financing.

The proposed route would cover various areas like Mohammadpur, Science Lab, New Market, Azimpur, Lalbagh, Chawkbazar, Mitford, Naya Bazar, Demra and Tarabo. A branch route to Sadarghat is also proposed under the project.

This project would link with the other metro lines. MRT-5 at Gabtoli and MRT-1, 4 and 6 at Kamalapur. A link from Narayanganj to Munshiganj has also been propose.

-AJM