Feasibility study for transport masterplan, metro rail project in Chattogram

The government is set to begin the feasibility study to prepare a long-term master plan of a planned transportation system and metro rail in Chattogram city and surrounding areas costing Tk77 crore with a duration of one year.

The feasibility study would be conducted with the support of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), which will provide Tk51 crore in aid.

Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) will supervise the feasibility study. 

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said this on Sunday at a briefing after holding a meeting with the ambassador of Korea to Bangladesh Lee Jang-Keun and KOICA Deputy Country Director Khim Thei Hiyon at the secretariat.    

Obaidul Quader said the Road Transportation and Highways  Division would undertake a project worth TK77 crore. A feasibility study would be conducted to prepare a master plan for the planned transportation for the Chattogram city and the surrounding areas along with a mass transit line and metro rail. 

Besides, feasibility study for circular road, radial road, multimodal transport hub, modernization of the traffic management, selection of spot for the bus terminal, bus route rationalization and operation of buses under companies will also be conducted considering the ever-increasing development needs of the port city, said the minister.

Obaidul Quader also informed that an expert survey team has been visiting Bangladesh which will exchange views with all the stakeholders involved with the development of Chattogram between 8 February and 12 February.  

The minister said that the road transport ministry has taken initiative to undertake the metro rail project in Chattogram as the majority of the export-import of the country is commenced through the Chattogram port.     

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in January this year asked the authorities concerned to build the metro rail from the Shah Amanat International Airport to the Chattogram Railway Station in the port city. 

Chattogram is going to have a metro rail as the second city of the country after Dhaka where the service is due to be launched in December this year.

She issued the directive at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec).

At that time, the planning minister informed that the Chattogram City Corporation was asked to send a project proposal to this end. 

The Planning Commission will then complete the process of approving the project proposal with due importance, he added.