Asian Development Bank (ADB) is eager to invest in metro rail project as the government is considering starting a feasibility study for building two more mass transit lines in Dhaka city.
Official sources said the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges has already taken a move to construct Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line-1 and 5 in the city's two important corridors in accordance with the guidelines of Japanese consultants.
Though the minister concerned has requested the Japanese lending agency to provide necessary support in this regard, they said, the Manila-based lending agency has also come forward with their interest to invest in any of these MRT projects.
"We have been informed of their interest, but we have not yet taken any decision in this regard," said Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary MAN Siddique.
He said the decision will be taken after the Revised Strategic Transport Plan (RSTP) whose final draft has already been prepared will become effective after the cabinet's approval.
The RSTP has proposed constructing five MRT lines and two Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lines for the mega-city to manage 19 per cent of 30 million trips which are generated every day.
Of the total mass transit lines, MRT line-6 project is now underway. However, the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority, under which the STP has been revised, has done preliminary feasibility study on MRT line-1 and 5.
The government has planned to set up MRT-1 from Airport to Kamalapur railway station through Progoti Sarani and MRT-5 from Gabtoli to Vatara through Mirpur, Cantonment and Gulshan-2.
Sources said an ADB mission, now in the city, will discuss the possibility of the investment with the Economic Relations Division next week.
They said there is a possibility to invite the ADB for the investment in MRT line-1. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is now working on it.
The DTCA has completed the final draft of the RSTP through a Japanese consulting firm with assistance from JICA which has outlined an investment plan involving over Tk 1,600 billion to develop seven mass transit systems for Dhaka city by 2035.
JICA has been providing necessary technical and financial support for setting up rail-based mass transit system. The ADB is providing technical support for the implementation of the first BRT line being planned from Gazipur to Shahjalal International Airport.
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