The authority concerned has planned to develop a subway network by establishing four routes in the city by 2030 at an estimated cost of US$ 32 billion, sources said.
Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) has finalized the four routes after a feasibility study which proposed developing 11 routes in the city.
Spanish firm TYPSA conducted the study and placed the report to BBA in September. It suggested starting the work on the preparation for investment. Sources said the firm is now working on the pre-design of the four routes.
Bridge Secretary Belayet Hossain said the four routes have been selected from a total of 11 routes.
He also said these subways would be substitute to metro rails being planned in the city. "Coordination and integration are continuing to avoid repetitions."
The BBA has already placed one route from Jhilmil to Tongi for investment from South Korea under public-private-partnership during the 3rd PPP Joint Platform meeting with the country held on November 12.
But the BBA has also taken a move to look for financiers through Economic Relations Division.
Officials said a summary of the BBA's plan on the first subway network by 2030 will be placed soon to the Prime Minister for her approval. A pre-development project proposal has been drafted.
They said requests for funding have also been made to Japan as it has been developing three metro rail lines named as Mass Rapid Transit lines 6, 1 and 5.
Another MRT-2 is also being considered for investment under PPP through government-to-government arrangements.
According to the BBA, the four routes have been designed as route O, S, T and B.
The O route was proposed to Korea. Other routes are Route-S from Siddhirganj to Kamrangirchar, Route-T from Uttara to Narayanganj and Route-B from Gabtoli to Mastul.
BBA has estimated the cost of each subway route at US$ 8 billion.
Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited has been working to set up five MRTs in the city under the strategic transport plan. One of them is at construction stage while two others at feasibility and design stage.
smunima@yahoo.com