MRT Line 2 (Dhaka Metro Rail) explained

Mass Rapid Transit Line 2
Mapcolour: Violet (#8031A7)
Type:Rapid transit
System:Dhaka Metro Rail
Status:Proposed
Locale:Greater Dhaka, Bangladesh
Start: (West)
End: (South)
Stations:22
Owner:Road Transport and Highways Division
Operator:Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited
Character:Elevated and underground
Depot:Matuail, Demra Thana
Linelength:35km (22miles)
Tracks:2
Electrification: and overhead catenary

The MRT Line 2 (Bengali: এমআরটি লাইন ২) is Dhaka's proposed rapid transit line. It will be the fifth of the Dhaka Metro Rail system and will be operated by Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL). It is scheduled to open in 2030.

History

In 2005, the World Bank published a study report, recommending that the government of Bangladesh build a mass transit system in Dhaka. In the same year, American consultancy firm Louis Berger Group prepared a strategic transport plan for Dhaka.[1] The World Bank helped to develop this plan, which proposed the construction of five MRT lines in Dhaka.[2] The five metro lines were MRT Line 1, MRT Line 2, MRT Line 4, MRT Line 5 and MRT Line 6.[3] On 15 June 2017, an agreement was signed between the government of Bangladesh and Japan to build MRT Line 2 on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) basis. On June 7 of the following year, a sub-working group headed by Marubeni was formed to list its construction project in the PPP. It was planned to connect Gabtoli with Kamalapur through MRT Line 2. On 1 October 2019, Selina Hayat Ivy, the mayor of Narayanganj City Corporation, submitted a written request to Obaidul Quader, the Road Transport and Bridges minister, to connect Narayanganj with the Dhaka Metro network. As a result, in the meeting of the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority on 24 November 2019, it was decided to revise and extend the route of MRT Line 2 to Chittagong Road area of Narayanganj Sadar Upazila.[4] The pre-feasibility report showed that three lakh passengers could travel through this line. 24 stations were proposed on the route and the proposed length of the line was 24 km.[5] But the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) disagreed as the PPP study by the consultancy firm recommended that Japan should take the responsibility for operation and maintenance of MRT Line 2.[6] Based on a preliminary study prepared by Oriental Consultants Global and PwC for the fiscal year 2020-21, the project was declared ineligible for implementation in a March 2021 report. However, in 2015 the finalized Strategic Transport Plan (STP) made the project feasible. According to the study, if construction is done in PPP, the government would have to bear 85% of the budget, so the government excludes it from PPP and looks for donor agencies for construction. On the other hand, with another railway project underway on the proposed route of MRT Line 2, DMTCL planned to change the route to connect the southern city of Narayanganj with the metro network. The proposed mass rapid transit line was budgeted at about .[7] In 2023, the government decided to request the Department of Economic Relations (ERD) to find donors to fund MRT Line 2.[8] ERD found World Bank, Japan and South Korea as potential donors.[9] On 3 July 2024, Export–Import Bank of China in a meeting with ERD expressed interest in lending 75% of the total budget of MRT Line 2.[10] On the same day, local government and rural development and co-operatives minister Md Tazul Islam was assured of financial support for the project by Hara Shohei, vice president of the Japan International Cooperation Agency.[11]

Stations

See also: List of Dhaka Metro Rail stations.

Main line

CodeNameConnectionsLocationOpened
EnglishBengali
1গাবতলী
Mirpur Model ThanaPlanned
2ঢাকা উদ্যানMohammadpur Thana
3মোহাম্মদপুর
4ঝিগাতলাHazaribagh Thana
5সায়েন্স ল্যাব
6নিউ মার্কেটNew Market Thana
7আজিমপুরAzimpur
8পলাশীLalbagh
9ঢাকা মেডিকেল কলেজShahbagh Thana
10গুলিস্তানGulistan
11মতিঝিলMotijheel
12কমলাপুর Bus station
Bangladesh Railway

Kamalapur
13মান্ডাMugda Thana
14দক্ষিণগাঁওSabujbagh Thana
15ধামড়িপাড়াDemra Thana
16সাইনবোর্ডSiddhirganj Thana
17ভুইঘর
18জালকুড়িFatullah Thana
19নারায়ণগঞ্জNarayanganj Model Thana

Branch line

CodeNameConnectionsLocationOpened
EnglishBengali
1গুলিস্তানGulistanPlanned
2গোলাপ শাহ মাজার
3নয়াবাজারBangshal Thana
4সদরঘাটSadarghat

Depot

A land area totaling 65ha has been designated between Green Model Town and Amulia Model Town, encompassing the Matuail and Damripara mouzas in Demra. This allocation is intended for the construction of the depot, depot access corridors, and construction yards.[12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: পুরোটাই উড়ালপথে নির্মাণ ভারতের 'মেট্রো ম্যান' শ্রীধরনের পরামর্শে. bn. Shamim. Rahman. 23 December 2022. 26 December 2022. Bonikbarta.net. 26 December 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221226234004/https://bonikbarta.net/home/news_description/324689/%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%87-%E0%A6%89%E0%A7%9C%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%A5%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A3-%E0%A6%AD%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E2%80%98%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%9F%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8B-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8%E2%80%99-%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%A7%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%87. live.
  2. Web site: মেট্রোরেল ছিল বিরাট এক চ্যালেঞ্জ. bn. Sheikh Shahriar. Zaman. 25 December 2022. 26 December 2022. Bangla Tribune. 25 December 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221225144844/https://www.banglatribune.com/others/capital-city/778684/%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%9F%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B2-%E0%A6%9B%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B2-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%9F-%E0%A6%8F%E0%A6%95-%E0%A6%9A%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%9E%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%9C. live.
  3. News: এয়ারপোর্ট থেকে কমলাপুর আন্ডারগ্রাউন্ড লাইন হচ্ছে. bn. 14 October 2019. 10 March 2023. Kaler Kantho. 9 December 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191209134301/https://www.kalerkantho.com/online/national/2019/10/14/826599. live.
  4. News: মেট্রোরেলের আওতায় আসছে নারায়ণগঞ্জ. bn. Sahed. Sharif. 3 December 2019. 18 August 2023. Bangla Tribune. 30 August 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230830062833/https://www.banglatribune.com/national/597430/%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%9F%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%93%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE%E0%A7%9F-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%9B%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%A3%E0%A6%97%E0%A6%9E%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%9C. live.
  5. Web site: Metro Rail-2 under PPP. Jahidul. Islam. 17 December 2020. 14 August 2023. The Business Standard. 30 August 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230830062834/https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/infrastructure/metro-rail-2-under-ppp-173113. live.
  6. News: MRT-2 physical work: Funding setback may delay the start. Tuhin Subhra. Adhikari. 6 October 2022. 14 August 2023. The Daily Star. 30 August 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230830062934/https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/transport/news/mrt-2-physical-work-funding-setback-may-delay-the-start-3135956. live.
  7. News: মেট্রোরেল-২ এর রুট বদল. bn. 19 October 2022. 14 August 2023. Amader Shomoy. 30 August 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230830062838/https://www.dainikamadershomoy.com/post/402249. live.
  8. News: Govt plans to start construction of MRT-2 and MRT-4. FHM Humayan. Kabir. 1 April 2023. 14 August 2023. The Financial Express.
  9. News: Metro Line-2, -4: Japan, S Korea, WB show interests. Tuhin Subhra. Adhikary. 1 May 2023. 18 August 2023. The Daily Star. 18 August 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230818015040/https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/transport/news/metro-line-2-4-japan-s-korea-wb-show-interests-3308321. live.
  10. News: নতুন একটি মেট্রোরেলে ঋণ দিতে আগ্রহী চীন. bn. 3 July 2024. 5 July 2024. Prothom Alo.
  11. News: মেট্রোরেলের দুই প্রকল্পে সহায়তার আশ্বাস জাইকার. bn. 3 July 2024. 5 July 2024. Jamuna TV.
  12. Web site: 28 December 2022 . Six MRT lines to crisscross Bangladesh capital by 2030 . 2024-03-07 . New Age . en.