Gabtoli-Dasherkandi metro route to get approval soon: Official

The revised development project proposal (DPP) for the construction of the Metro Line-5 (South) route from Gabtoli to Dasherkandi will be sent to the planning commission this week for approval, an official said.

“The DPP was prepared on the basis of the feasibility study and engineering design for construction of a 17.20 km long underground and elevated track of the southern route,” he said.

Project Director of Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project (Line-5) Southern Route Brig Gen (Retd) Md Abdul Wohab said that all necessary preparations have been completed.

 He said the DPP will be sent to the road transport and bridges ministry tomorrow, as the prime minister desired to start the construction of metro rail soon, he said, adding, “Bid document has been prepared and bidding process for the project are currently underway.”

As per project details, the 37.20 km long MRT-5 have two routes- one from Gabtoli to Dasherkandi (southern route) and the other from Hemayetpur to Bhatara (northern route).

It said that authorities are preparing the bid documents in line with the relevant procurement procedures, while necessary steps are being taken to complete the bidding process to facilitate the implementation of the project.

According to project data, land development work for construction of the Metro Rail Line-5 depot at Hemayetpur was 59.37% complete as of July.

The 17.40 km southern route of MRT-5 will have 13.10km underground line from Gabtoli to Aftab Nagar West and a 4.10km elevated line from Aftab Nagar Centre to Dasherkandi. The line will have 11 underground and 4 elevated stations.

Construction work of MRT-5 began on 4 November 2023, and is scheduled to be completed in 2030.

Once completed, the new line will connect Gabtoli in the western part of the capital with Dasherkandi in the east, reducing travel time between the two points to just 28 minutes.

The metro line is expected to serve around 924,000 passengers daily. Each train will have the capacity to carry up to 2,312 passengers.

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The route will pass through Gabtoli, Technical, Kallyanpur, Shyamoli, College Gate, Asad Gate, Shukrabad, Karwan Bazar, Hatirjheel, Tejgaon, Aftabnagar Central, Aftabnagar East, Nasirabad and terminate at Dasherkandi.

The project cost has also been revised downward from the previously estimated Tk55,000 crore to Tk46,645 crore. A significant portion of the financing will come from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and South Korea's Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF).

Experts believe the project will significantly ease traffic congestion along Dhaka's east-west corridor, save millions of working hours and substantially reduce carbon emissions.