Southern Route (MRT Line 5) explained

Mass Rapid Transit Line 5
Southern Route
Type:Rapid transit
System:Dhaka Metro Rail
Status:Approved
Locale:Greater Dhaka, Bangladesh
Start: (West)
End: (East)
Stations:15
Mapcolour: Orange (#FF8200)
Yearcommenced:2024
Yearcompleted:2030 (planned)
Owner:Road Transport and Highways Division
Operator:Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited
Character:Elevated and underground
Depot:Dasherkandi, Badda Thana
Linelength:17.3km (10.7miles)
Tracks:2

The Southern Route is one of the branches of the approved MRT Line 5 line of Dhaka Metro Rail; the other one being the Northern Route. This route is currently in its planning stages. The construction of the Southern Route could begin in 2024 and is scheduled to commence operation by 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 11 December 2019, Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) signed a loan agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for pre-construction work of US$33.26 million, which was 74.60% of the required amount.[4] On 29 March 2021, EGIS Rail SA, Egis India Consulting Engineers Pvt Ltd, Oriental Consultants Global Company Ltd and SMEC International Pvt. Ltd signed a memorandum of understanding with DMTCL for the consultancy of the route. As per the agreement, the companies jointly undertook feasibility study, detailed design and procurement for the route.[5] The route of the Southern Route was initially fixed from Gabtoli to Trimohani Bridge area. The location of two underground stations on this route was decided at College Gate and Asad Gate which are located near Ganabhaban. DMTCL planned to conduct a survey to determine the location of the two stations. It was necessary to obtain permission from the Prime Minister's Office to carry out a survey near the important building. As of 2022, A coordination meeting was to be held to resolve the complications in determining the alignment of the route.[6] The total budget of the Southern Route construction project is estimated at US$4.7 billion, of which ADB is expected to contribute 53.19%. But in a stakeholder meeting on 26 February 2023, the government requested ADB to pay 6.38% more.[7] In May 2023, South Korea signed a framework arrangement to provide $1.5 billion in financing for the route. Under the project, there are plans to build two transit oriented hubs at Gabtoli and Dasherkandi. Construction of the route is scheduled to begin in June 2024.[8] In November 2023, South Korea confirmed $1 billion fund for the line.[9] In the same month, the Asian Development Bank secured $3 billion in funding for the Southern Route. In March 2024, the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges submitted the proposal for the construction of the Southern Route to the Project Evaluation Committee.[10] In the meeting of Bangladesh Planning Commission in April 2024, it was decided to reduce its proposed budget to a rational amount.[11]

Stations

See also: List of Dhaka Metro Rail stations. The MRT Line 5's Southern Route has 15 proposed stations. 4 stations will be elevated and 11 stations will be underground.

CodeNameConnectionsLocationOpened
EnglishBengali
1গাবতলী
Mirpur Model ThanaPlanned
2টেকনিক্যালDarus Salam Thana
3কল্যাণপুরKallyanpur
4শ্যামলীShyamoli
5কলেজ গেটSher-e-Bangla Nagar
6আসাদ গেটMohammadpur Thana
7রাসেল স্কয়ারKalabagan
8কারওয়ান বাজারKarwan (Kawran) Bazar
9হাতিরঝিলHatirjheel Thana
10তেজগাঁওTejgaon Thana
11আফতাবনগরAftabnagar
12আফতাবনগর সেন্টার
13আফতাবনগর পশ্চিম
14নাসিরাবাদBadda Thana
15দাশেরকান্দি

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: Another MRT line in the offing. Rejaul. Karim Byron. 12 December 2019. 25 June 2023. The Daily Star.
  5. Web site: General consultant appointed for studying another metro rail. Munima. Sultana. 31 March 2021. 25 June 2023. Thefinancialexpress.com.bd.
  6. News: গণভবনের সামনে মেট্রোরেলের স্থান নির্ধারণে জটিলতা. bn. Tawhidul. Islam. 11 February 2022. 25 June 2023. Amader Shomoy.
  7. Web site: এমআরটি লাইন-৫ : এডিবির কাছে আরও ৩০০ মিলিয়ন ডলার চায় সরকার. bn. 26 February 2023. 25 June 2023. Dhaka Post.
  8. News: এমআরটি-৫-এর কাজ শুরু হতে পারে আগামী বছরের জুনে. bn. 27 February 2023. 25 June 2023. Kaler Kantho.
  9. Web site: 2023-10-13 . S Korea keen on lending $1b for MRT-5 southern route . 2023-10-31 . The Business Standard . en.
  10. News: Funding for Gabtoli-Dasherkandi metro line confirmed. Rejaul Karim. Byron. Wasim. Bin Habib. 4 February 2024. 18 April 2024. The Daily Star.
  11. News: Planning commission meet proposes cut in MRT-5 project spending. 23 April 2024. 24 April 2024. The Business Standard.