Dhaka: The construction of Bangladesh’s first-ever underground metro rail on the Airport-Kamalapur route is actively progressing, with the relocation of utility services, aiming for completion by 2028. “Efforts are underway to accomplish the construction of the Mass Rapid Transit Line-1 (MRT Line-1) in time to reduce traffic congestion and improve the environment-friendly commuter service in the capital,” stated Managing Director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) Md Abdur Rouf to BSS.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the MRT Line-1 project, stretching over 31.241 kilometers between Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and Kamalapur Railway Station, is divided into two segments: the Airport Route and the Purbachal Route. The Airport Route, which spans 19.872 kilometers, will feature 12 underground stations, whereas the 11.369-kilometer Purbachal Route will include nine stations, both elevated and underground.
The project, inaugurated on February 2, 2023, follows a feasibility study con
ducted from 2016 to 2018. As the implementing agency, DMTCL has engaged various contractors for the construction of MRT Line-1. Project Director Md Abul Kashem Bhuiyan highlighted that the entire MRT Line-1 project is being executed in 12 packages, with a total cost of Tk. 53,977 crore. Funding is being provided by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which is contributing Tk. 39,450 crore, while the Bangladesh government is investing Tk. 14,527 crore.
Upon completion, the metro rail is expected to transport approximately 70,000 passengers per hour between the airport and Kamalapur. Experts estimate that the daily passenger capacity will reach 13.66 lakh, which is about 2.83 times higher than the current MRT Line-6 project. The government aims to establish a 140-kilometer metro rail network in Dhaka and its surrounding areas by 2030, significantly reducing traffic congestion. The planned network will encompass six lines, covering 129 kilometers with more than 100 stations, comprising 68 kilomet
ers of elevated tracks and 61 kilometers of underground passageways, ultimately serving 50 lakh commuters.