Dhaka metro rail to be mostly elevated

First phase to link Sonargaon crossing with Pallabi; project likely to end by 2015.
The first part of a mostly elevated metro rail system in the capital will be built mainly over government land and existing roads, based on a Japanese study, said Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain.

Japan showed interest in financing 80 percent of the project cost as well, amounting to US$1.7 billion. The remaining 20 percent of the cost will be borne by the government.

The government is expecting Japan to finalise the funding during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to that country in January or February next year.

Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) conducted the study on the metro rail system, and determined that it will be doable if the majority part is built over the surface. The communications minister said some parts however will be underground.

"This project will not be a public private partnership like the elevated expressway," Syed Abul Hossain told The Daily Star recently. Rather it will be a government project funded by Japan, he added. If Japan provides untied loan, the government will go for open tender.

The Jica study chalked out three routes. Japan showed interest in the first part dubbed Mass Rail Transit-6.

This part will be 22-kilometre long, said Dr SM Salehuddin, additional executive director of Dhaka Transport Coordination Board. The route stretches between Uttara Third Phase and Sayedabad via Pallabi, Chandrima Udyan, and Hotel Sonargaon crossing.

The remaining two parts involve circular routes from Gulshan-1, Mirpur, Azimpur, National Press Club, and Gulshan-2.

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