Bangladesh seeks to revive two stalled Dhaka metro lines. Expert panel says costs could more than double.

Bangladesh’s two stalled Dhaka metro projects could cost more than twice their original estimates because of a stronger U.S. dollar, inflation, higher taxes, and station design changes, a government-appointed expert committee found.

Mass Rapid Transit Line 1 could cost nearly Tk 110,000 crore (approximately $8.90 billion), up from Tk 52,561 crore (approximately $4.25 billion). Line 5 could cost Tk 88,000 crore to Tk 90,000 crore (approximately $7.12 billion to $7.28 billion), compared with Tk 41,238 crore (approximately $3.34 billion) originally.

Committee leader Shamim Z Bosunia said, “We are confident that our analysis is correct.”

Dhaka Mass Transit Company has submitted even higher revised proposals as Bangladesh’s government seeks to restart both projects. Bosunia urged quick action, citing Japan’s 0.9 percent financing rate and warning that similarly cheap funding may not remain available.