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The revised development project proposal (DPP) for Dhaka’s Metro Rail Line-5 (South), connecting Gabtoli to Dasherkandi, is set to be sent to the Planning Commission this week for approval, officials said.
Project Director of the Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project (Line-5) Southern Route, retired Brigadier General Md Abdul Wohab, said all necessary preparations have been completed. The proposal will first be forwarded to the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry before being placed for final approval, as the government aims to expedite metro rail construction.
The DPP has been prepared based on feasibility studies and engineering designs for a 17.20-kilometre route combining underground and elevated tracks. Authorities have already prepared bid documents, and the procurement process is currently underway.
The 37.20-kilometre MRT Line-5 will consist of two routes: the southern route from Gabtoli to Dasherkandi and the northern route from Hemayetpur to Bhatara. Of the southern section, 13.10 km will be underground from Gabtoli to Aftabnagar West, while 4.10 km will be elevated from Aftabnagar Central to Dasherkandi. The route will include 11 underground and four elevated stations.
Construction of MRT-5 began on November 4, 2023, and is scheduled for completion by 2030. Once operational, the line is expected to cut travel time between Gabtoli and Dasherkandi to just 28 minutes.
The metro line is projected to serve around 924,000 passengers daily, with each train capable of carrying up to 2,312 passengers. The route will pass through key نقاط including Gabtoli, Kallyanpur, Shyamoli, Asad Gate, Karwan Bazar, Hatirjheel, Tejgaon, Aftabnagar, and terminate at Dasherkandi.
According to project data, land development for the depot at Hemayetpur is already 59.37 percent complete as of July.
The project cost has been revised down from Tk 55,000 crore to Tk 46,645 crore, with major financing support expected 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 reduce carbon emissions.