Dhaka Metro

Overview

Native name

Bengali: ঢাকা মেট্রো

Locale

Dhaka, Bangladesh

Transit type

Rapid transit

Number of lines

3 (planned: MRT lines 4-6)

Operation

Operation will start

2019^[1] (estimated)

Technical

System length

20.1 km (12.5 mi) (MRT line 6)

System map

The Dhaka Metro (Bengali: ঢাকা মেট্রো) is an approved metro rail system to be constructed in Dhaka, the capital and largest city of Bangladesh. The system is referred to as the MRT, abbreviated from Mass Rapid Transit. It has been long called for to solve the extreme amount of traffic jams and congestion that occur throughout the entire city on a daily basis. Dhaka's traffic congestion is among the heaviest in the world.

Overview

A feasibility study has been completed, the route has been decided upon, yet construction has not begun. The progress was stalled by a number of objections to the route alignment by numerous organisations. The deal for the first route (MRT line 6) of 20.1 kilometres (12.5 mi), costing $2.8 billion, was signed by the government with the Japan International Cooperation Agency on 20 February 2013.^[2] The first route will start from Pallabi, a northern suburb of Dhaka to Sayedabad, in the south of the capital.^[3] Most of the metro will be elevated above current roads, with stations also elevated. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation of India will serve as a project consultant.^[4]

A video released by the Dhaka Transport Coordination Board appeasers to show that the system plans to use smartcards.

Route alignment

A tentative alignment has been decided upon for three new metro lines.

The stations on MTR Line 6 are still unclear. The Daily Star has reported that stations include Pallabi, Sayedabad, Chandrima Udyan, Agargaon, Bijoy Sharani, Shahbagh, TSC, Bangla Academy, Curzon Hall, Topkhana and Bangladesh Bank, but did not state where along the line they would be placed. The original map above also has different station placement to a Dhaka Transport Coordination Board video released in January 2012. The table below uses the most recent information from the DTCB video.

MRT Line 6

Legend