A historic shift is underway in Dhaka and Chattogram as Bangladesh builds the foundation for a faster, smarter, and more connected future. Massive projects aim to ease traffic, improve mobility, and transform the daily lives of millions, going far beyond concrete and rail lines. This blog explores the goals, progress, and challenges of the nation’s ambitious urban transportation revolution, where every station and extension moves us closer to a modern, vibrant city.

Dhaka Subway: In August 2018, BBA appointed a Spanish consulting company, TYPSA, to conduct the feasibility study and preliminary design of the Dhaka Subway. The initial plan was to construct a subway network of 90 km, consisting of four lines (Line – T,S,O,B) with stations spaced at an average distance of approximately one kilometer. After some feasibility studies, the project was expanded to cover the entire Dhaka with a total length of 238 kilometers, later revised to 258 kilometers. Out of the total 11 planning routes initially, Gabtoli to Mastul (Route-B) and Tongi to Jhilmil (Route-O) are the highest priority stage. The government emphasised the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) model for the subway construction to reduce the risk of financing. In the 7th Bangladesh–Japan joint platform meeting on 11th March in Tokyo, Bangladesh proposed Subway O and Subway B as a PPP model. Presently, the government is placing more emphasis on subway planning. The subway will be connected with MRT, BRT, and expressway major stations. There will be 11 routes, 148 stations, and 258 km in total. Planning implementation will be done gradually by 2030, 2040, and the rest of the routes by 2050.

MRT 6 Extension: DMTCL is planning to extend the metro rail’s MRT Line-6 from Uttara to Tongi with 5 new stations. Once operational, the journey from Tongi to Kamalapur will take just 48 minutes. The 2nd phase extension from Motijheel to Kamalapur is also ongoing. Motijheel station work is almost 40 percent done and ongoing. The total extension is 1.16 km. Thirty pillar works are already visible. Segment works are ongoing now. The rest will be finished very soon. The 3rd phase extension is in the planning stage and will run from Uttara North Station to Tongi Railway Station. This 7.5 km extension will include five new stations: Diabari Bazar, Sonargaon Janpath Road East, Sonargaon Janpath Road West, Tongi Bazar, and Tongi Railway Station.

MRT Line-1: Metro rail authorities have started utility relocation works from the airport to the Khilkhet area with the 24 Engineering Brigade. Line-1 (Package-1) depot development work at Pitalganj in Narayanganj is almost 90% complete by Tokyu Construction Co. Ltd. & Max Infrastructure Ltd. They expect to hand over the Line-2 contractor this depot by July 2025. Pre-contract negotiations with the contractors are ongoing for Package-5. The eight other packages are now at different stages of the tendering process. Draft documents for two other packages are pending with JICA for approval. MRT Line-1 will be a 31.24-kilometer line, with a 19.87-kilometer underground section from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Kamalapur and an 11.36-kilometer elevated section from Notun Bazar to Purbachal. Total work is expected to finish by 2030. The line will have 12 underground stations between the airport and Kamalapur and 9 stations on the Purbachal route, with Nadda and Notun Bazar serving as underground interchange stations. The Bangladesh government will provide US$1.5 billion, while the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will fund US$4.6 billion. It can be extended from time to time as per requirements.

MRT Line-5: Service line relocation for the MRT Line-5 Northern Route construction is ongoing. The MRT Line-5's Northern Route has 14 proposed stations. 13.5 km of this route with 9 stations will be underground, and 6.5 km with 5 stations will be elevated. The depot development work is approximately 70 percent complete, situated in Hemayetpur, Savar, on a 99.25-acre land. A joint venture of TAO Corporation of Japan and Spectra Engineers Limited is responsible for developing the depot under Package-01. This project is divided into 10 contract packages. The remaining 9 packages are still at different stages. For the Southern Part, according to project documents, after the interim government took office, the planning commission returned the project proposal to Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited under the RHD division to determine whether the project should proceed. The project was initially proposed in 2023 under the last Awami government at an estimated cost of Tk 54,618 crore. However, after revision, the cost came down to Tk 47,721 crore.

MRT Line-2: The Planning Commission is considering moving forward with MRT Line-2 instead of MRT Line-5 Southern Route to serve the densely populated Old Dhaka. Also, the Dasherkandi route of MRT-5 lacks significant commercial activity compared with the Old Dhaka area. MRT Line-2's main route would span from Gabtoli through Dhaka Uddyan, Mohammadpur, Jhigatola, Science Laboratory, New Market, Azimpur, Palashi, Dhaka Medical College, Gulistan, Motijheel, Kamalapur, Manda, Dakhingaon, Dhamripara, Signboard, Bhuighar, Jalkuri, eventually connecting to Narayanganj. A branch line from Gulistan would extend to Sadarghat with three other branch lines. The feasibility study for this route has not been done yet, but the present government wishes to at least connect with Sadarghat. According to the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), the construction of the 35 km MRT Line-2 is estimated to cost Tk 60,837 crore, with final costs to be determined after the feasibility study.

MRT Line-4: Korea is showing interest in funding the Kamalapur-Madanpur metro rail construction. Around 16 km from Kamlapur to Narayanganj’s Madanpur is the plan for MRT Line-4. The Kamlapur–Jatrabari portion is likely to be underground, and the Kanchpur–Madanpur portion will be elevated. The pre-feasibility study is already done. Initial MOU signing with a South Korean firm for financing is completed. The feasibility study will start soon. Initially, the DMTCL estimates that the construction of MRT Line-4 will cost Tk 30,000 crore. The details relating to costs will be finalised once a feasibility study is done.

Chittagong Metro Rail: The pre-feasibility study is already done for the Chittagong MRT line. As per their report, Chittagong city requires 3 different routes to cover 54.5 km to make Chittagong traffic-free. This 54.5 km will be covered by 47 stations. Initially, they are planning for Route-1, meaning MRT Line-1, which will cover 26 km with 20 stations. As per CDA, the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) will start a feasibility study soon.