ADB approves $33m loan to design project for Dhaka MRT Line 5
The Asian Development Bank has approved a concessional loan of $33.26 million for a project to design the Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line 5 (Southern Route) that will help ease the traffic and pollution burden in the Bangladeshi capital.
The project readiness financing will carry out detailed feasibility studies, engineering design, and procurement documentation in preparation for the 17.4km line, which will be constructed between Gabtoli and Dasherkandi Stations in Dhaka.
The project will also design measures for climate and natural disaster resilience, and integrate features for women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities into the design. The design will also include technology such as automated ticketing and a fare collection system with an integrated database for operations management.
The actual Line 5 project is estimated to cost about $2.5 billion and will be considered for subsequent ADB financing.
The planned MRT Line 5 will serve as one of the city’s few east–west corridors and provide connections with other MRT and bus rapid transit lines going north–south. Construction would require almost 13km underground with 12 stations, while the remaining section will be elevated with four stations.
The Government of Bangladesh is contributing $11.32 million toward the total cost of the project readiness financing of $44.58 million, which is due for completion at the end of 2023.
