The Road Transport and Highways Division (RTHD) has proposed a project to construct a 17.4km metro rail line from Gabtoli to Dasherkandi via Asad Gate, Panthpath, Hatirjheel and Aftab Nagar.
Of the total length, 4.6km will be elevated and 12.8km will be underground.
The estimated total cost of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Line-5 (Southern Route) is Tk54,618.96 crore.
Officials at the planning commission said that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide Tk39,138.26 crore of the total cost – accounting for about 71.66%; the remaining Tk15,480.70 crore will be provided by the government.
Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) will implement the MRT Line-5 (Southern Route) by 31 December, 2030, subject to the approval by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec).
According to the proposal, the per kilometre construction cost for the proposed project is Tk3,139.02 crore - the highest among all other metro projects in the country.
It is also significantly higher than all other projects in the neighbouring countries.
Regarding the justification of costs for some components and sent back the project to the ministry for further revision, said officials of the planning commission.
The physical infrastructure division of the planning commission arranged a meeting of the Project Evaluation Committee (PEC) on Tuesday (23 April) to assess the proposal.
The meeting was chaired by Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian, a member of the physical infrastructure division.
“People in Dhaka have significantly benefited since metro rail services began. Expanding the service will further those benefits,” he added.
Regarding the high expenses of the project, he said, “Costs for consultants have been justified due to various technical and inherent complexities in this sector. During the meeting, we have also asked for clarification from the RTHD and the DMTCL.”
“Cost of the proposed project is relatively lower considering the change in the exchange rate, updating of the rate schedule, and increase in the price of various materials including rods, cement and stone,” said Md Abdul Wohab, director of a technical assistance project to formulate the MRT Line 5 (Southern Route).
Costliest among all the MRT projects
The per kilometre construction cost for the MRT Line-5 (Southern Route) is more than double compared to the per kilometre construction cost of the MRT Line-6 project, which has been under operation for more than a year.
Metro trains currently operate between Uttara and Motijheel under the MRT Line-6 project which is scheduled to be extended up to Kamlapur by 2025.
The cost for the 21.26km of elevated line is estimated at Tk33,472 crore with a per kilometre construction cost of Tk1,574.41 crore - which is lower than half of the proposed project.
Unit cost of the new line is 88.74% higher than the MRT Line-1 project, the 31.24km metro rail line from the Dhaka airport to Kamlapur via Natunbazar with an elevated extension from Natunbazar to Purbachal.
The unit cost of MRT Line-5 (Southern Route) is 54% higher than MRT Line-5 (Northern Route) - the 20km metro rail line from Hemayetpur of Savar to Vatara via Mirpur-10, Kachukhet and Banani.
With a project cost of Tk41,239 crore, MRT Line-5 (Northern Route) is scheduled to be completed by 2028.
The per kilometre construction cost of the project is Tk2,062 crore.
Meanwhile, the MRT Line-1, considered the longest metro rail project in the city entails an investment of Tk52,561.43 crore.
The per kilometre cost of the 31.24km metro rail with 19.87km of underground section stood at Tk1,682.45 crore - which is roughly 52.98% of the proposed new project’s per kilometre cost.
Higher than costs in India and UAE
Costs of metro rail projects in Bangladesh are exceeding reasonable limits due to additional expenditures across various sectors, said public transport experts.
They argue that rising construction expenses are driving metro rail fares beyond the means of ordinary citizens, effectively transforming it into a mode of transport tailored for the affluent rather than serving as public transit.
Consequently, experts anticipate a surge in government subsidies required to construct, maintain and operate metro service in the city.
Indian government spent Rs8,576 crore to develop 10.8km metro rail under the Hugly river to connect Sealdah rail station with the other part of the Kolkata city.
Per kilometre construction cost for the line which was made public by the Indian Prime Minister on 6 March, stood at Tk1048.18 crore considering the current exchange rate - which is only 33% of the proposed project in Bangladesh.
Cost for 75km of driverless metro rail in UAE’s Dubai stood at Tk53,200 with a per kilometre cost of Tk709.33 crore.
The cost of metro rail in Dubai is only 22% compared with the proposed metro rail in Dhaka.
Costliest project to what comfort?
Government envisions a comprehensive metro rail network spanning 140km and comprising 6 lines by 2030 - a development anticipated to serve 50 lakh commuters once fully operational.
Project details of MRT Line-5 (Southern Route) reveal that it is poised to significantly alleviate traffic congestion and enhance the urban environment across the city.
Subject to approval, construction will start by the next year.
Under MRT Line-5 (Southern Route), the anticipated travel time between Gabtoli and Dasherkandi is estimated at 28 minutes, with trains scheduled to run every 4 minutes and 30 seconds by 2030.
Out of the total 15 stations in this route, 11 will be underground.
Initial operations will involve 19 trains - each equipped with 6 air-conditioned coaches, boasting a maximum capacity of 1,908 passengers per train.
