The revised development project proposal (DPP) for Dhaka`s Metro Rail Line-5 (South), which will connect Gabtoli and Dasherkandi, is set to be sent to the Planning Commission this week for approval, a project official said.
Project Director of the Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project (MRT Line-5 South) retired Brigadier General Md Abdul Wohab said all preparations have been completed to move the proposal forward.
He said the revised DPP, prepared based on the project`s feasibility study and detailed engineering design, will first be submitted to the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry before being sent to the Planning Commission.
"The Prime Minister wants the metro rail construction to begin as soon as possible. The bidding documents have already been prepared, and the procurement process is now underway," he told BSS.
The southern section of MRT Line-5 will be 17.20 kilometres long, featuring both underground and elevated tracks.
Of the total length, 13.10 kilometres will run underground from Gabtoli to Aftabnagar West, while the remaining 4.10 kilometres will be elevated from Aftabnagar Centre to Dasherkandi.
The route will include 15 stations, with 11 underground stations and four elevated ones.
MRT Line-5 consists of two separate corridors.
The southern route will connect Gabtoli to Dasherkandi, while the northern route will run from Hemayetpur to Bhatara.
According to project officials, authorities are completing the bidding process in line with procurement rules to ensure the project`s smooth implementation.
Work is also progressing on the metro depot at Hemayetpur, with land development reaching 59.37 percent completion by July.
Construction of Metro Line-5 began on November 4, 2023, and the project is expected to be completed by 2030.
Once operational, the line will reduce travel time between Gabtoli and Dasherkandi to about 28 minutes and is expected to carry around 924,000 passengers every day.
Each train will have the capacity to transport up to 2,312 passengers.
The route will pass through Gabtoli, Technical, Kallyanpur, Shyamoli, College Gate, Asad Gate, Shukrabad, Karwan Bazar, Hatirjheel, Tejgaon, Aftabnagar Central, Aftabnagar East, Nasirabad and Dasherkandi.
The project`s estimated cost has also been revised downward to Tk 46,645 crore from the earlier estimate of Tk 55,000 crore. Funding will mainly come from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and South Korea`s Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF).
Transport experts believe the metro line will play a key role in reducing traffic congestion along Dhaka`s busy east-west corridor, cutting travel time, saving millions of working hours and lowering carbon emissions.
