Bangladesh plans 17.2-kilometer metro line from Gabtoli to Dasherkandi

Bangladesh is moving forward with a Tk 45,504 crore (approximately $3.70 billion) Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Line-5 southern route, with the project expected to go before the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) next week.

The 17.2-kilometer line will run from Gabtoli to Dasherkandi and include 15 stations, 11 underground and four elevated. More than two-thirds of the route will be underground.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has committed up to $3 billion in loans, while South Korea has pledged up to $1.5 billion. Project documents say development partners are expected to provide Tk 30,306 crore (approximately $2.47 billion) in loans.

Construction is scheduled from September 2026 to August 2033. Nineteen six-coach trains are initially planned, with the full journey expected to take 28 minutes and trains running every four minutes and 30 seconds.

“We want to fully implement the metro rail network in Dhaka city. We want to integrate monorails into this system to ensure last-mile connectivity,” said Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, finance and planning minister. “Not everything can be accomplished in a single year; it is an ongoing process. To save Dhaka, free its people from traffic congestion, and boost overall efficiency, there are few alternatives to a mass transit system.”