ADB to review 20-year transport plan for financing MRT lines

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will review the government's 20-year city transport plan, recently approved after revision, to assess scope of its financing in the proposed mass rapid transit (MRT) lines.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) revised the Strategic Transport Plan (RSTP) with some recommendations on transport plan for greater Dhaka till 2035.
The RSTP was approved in August last year.
Sources said the ADB, which already approved US$ 2.0 billion for investment in the city metro rail project, will work on the findings of the RSTP under a project titled 'Dhaka Metro' to assess areas of its assistance.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges (MoRTB), however, requested the Manila-based development partner to finance the proposed MRT line-5 along with the JICA. The Japanese government's financing agency has already hinted at funding a part of the line after feasibility study.
An official said as the JICA has already started carrying out feasibility study on the southern part of the MRT line-5, the ADB was requested to conduct  study on the northern part that starts from Hemayetpur to Vatara through Gabtoli, Mirpur, Kochuket and Banani.
The southern part is considered from Gabtoli bus terminal to Hatirjheel link road through Dhanmondi and Bashundhara City.
A preparatory technical assistance project has been taken under the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) with the objectives of analysing the findings and defining scope of detailed design to be prepared under the technical assistance by 2018.
According to sources, the ADB review will also look into demand forecast and update of the transport model, RSTP recommendations, transit network as well as implementation challenges and solutions.
After the review, the bank will also place the recommendations on the RSTP.
Under the RSTP, the JICA has proposed to set up five MRT lines for greater Dhaka city and three circular roads along with other recommendations.
Of the MRTs, the MoRTB has already started implementing MRT-6 to be constructed from Uttara to Motijheel with the financial support of the JICA.
After the revision of the STP, the JICA has also started feasibility study on two other MRT lines - MRT-1 and southern part of MRT-5.
The ADB is likely to co-finance the MRT-5 project with the JICA after the end of one-year long study.
    smunima@yahoo.com