The Southern Route (Bengali: সাউদার্ন রুট) 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.[1]
| Mass Rapid Transit Line 5 Southern Route | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | |||
| Status | Approved | ||
| Owner | Road Transport and Highways Division | ||
| Locale | Greater Dhaka, Bangladesh | ||
| Termini |
| ||
| Stations | 15 | ||
| Colour on map | Orange (#FF8200) | ||
| Service | |||
| Type | Rapid transit | ||
| System | Dhaka Metro Rail | ||
| Operator(s) | Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited | ||
| Depot(s) | Dasherkandi, Badda Thana | ||
| History | |||
| Commenced | 2024 | ||
| Completed | 2030 (planned) | ||
| Technical | |||
| Line length | 17.3 kilometres (10.7 mi) | ||
| Number of tracks | 2 | ||
| Character | Elevated and underground | ||
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge | ||
| |||
_Route_Map_(en).svg)
History
editIn 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.[2] The World Bank helped to develop this plan, which proposed the construction of five MRT lines in Dhaka.[3] The five metro lines were MRT Line 1, MRT Line 2, MRT Line 4, MRT Line 5 and MRT Line 6.[4] 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.[5] 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.[6] 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.[7] 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.[8] In May 2023, South Korea signed a framework arrangement to provide $1.5 billion in financing for the route.[9] 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.[10] In November 2023, South Korea confirmed $1 billion fund for the line.[1] 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.[9] In the meeting of Bangladesh Planning Commission in April 2024, it was decided to reduce its proposed budget to a rational amount.[11] Later, after the formation of Yunus interim government in August 2024, some proposals were presented to the government under the direction of Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud. The proposals are to scrap the project and implement MRT Line 2, scrap the first eight stations of the route and build the Hatirjheel to Dasherkandi section, and not implement the project until the country's economic situation improves.[12]
Stations
editThe MRT Line 5's Southern Route has 15 proposed stations. 4 stations will be elevated and 11 stations will be underground.
| Code | Name | Connections | Location | Opened | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | Bengali | ||||
| 1 | Gabtoli | গাবতলী | MRT Line 2 MRT Line 5N |
Mirpur Model Thana | Planned |
| 2 | Technical | টেকনিক্যাল | Darus Salam Thana | ||
| 3 | Kallyanpur | কল্যাণপুর | Kallyanpur | ||
| 4 | Shyamoli | শ্যামলী | Shyamoli | ||
| 5 | College Gate | কলেজ গেট | Sher-e-Bangla Nagar | ||
| 6 | Asad Gate | আসাদ গেট | Mohammadpur Thana | ||
| 7 | Russel Square | রাসেল স্কয়ার | Kalabagan | ||
| 8 | Karwan Bazar | কারওয়ান বাজার | MRT Line 6 | Karwan (Kawran) Bazar | |
| 9 | Hatirjheel | হাতিরঝিল | Hatirjheel Thana | ||
| 10 | Tejgaon | তেজগাঁও | Tejgaon Thana | ||
| 11 | Aftabnagar | আফতাবনগর | MRT Line 1 | Aftabnagar | |
| 12 | Aftabnagar Center | আফতাবনগর সেন্টার | |||
| 13 | Aftabnagar East | আফতাবনগর পশ্চিম | |||
| 14 | Nasirabad | নাসিরাবাদ | Badda Thana | ||
| 15 | Dasherkandi | দাশেরকান্দি | |||
References
edit- ^ a b "S Korea keen on lending $1b for MRT-5 southern route". The Business Standard. 2023-10-13. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
- ^ Rahman, Shamim (23 December 2022). "পুরোটাই উড়ালপথে নির্মাণ ভারতের 'মেট্রো ম্যান' শ্রীধরনের পরামর্শে". Bonikbarta.net (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 26 December 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ Zaman, Sheikh Shahriar (25 December 2022). "মেট্রোরেল ছিল বিরাট এক চ্যালেঞ্জ". Bangla Tribune (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 25 December 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ "এয়ারপোর্ট থেকে কমলাপুর আন্ডারগ্রাউন্ড লাইন হচ্ছে". Kaler Kantho (in Bengali). 14 October 2019. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
- ^ Karim Byron, Rejaul (12 December 2019). "Another MRT line in the offing". The Daily Star. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
- ^ Sultana, Munima (31 March 2021). "General consultant appointed for studying another metro rail". Thefinancialexpress.com.bd. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
- ^ Islam, Tawhidul (11 February 2022). "গণভবনের সামনে মেট্রোরেলের স্থান নির্ধারণে জটিলতা". Amader Shomoy (in Bengali). Retrieved 25 June 2023.
- ^ "এমআরটি লাইন-৫ : এডিবির কাছে আরও ৩০০ মিলিয়ন ডলার চায় সরকার". Dhaka Post (in Bengali). 26 February 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
- ^ a b Byron, Rejaul Karim; Bin Habib, Wasim (4 February 2024). "Funding for Gabtoli-Dasherkandi metro line confirmed". The Daily Star. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ "এমআরটি-৫-এর কাজ শুরু হতে পারে আগামী বছরের জুনে". Kaler Kantho (in Bengali). 27 February 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
- ^ "Planning commission meet proposes cut in MRT-5 project spending". The Business Standard. 23 April 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ Saif, Saifuddin (21 September 2024). "Now focus is on linking Old Dhaka with metro". The Business Standard. Retrieved 21 September 2024.