The proposed project to construct four subways in the city has faced a setback as it was not cleared by the authorities concerned due to overlapping with the metro rail projects approved recently.
Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) did not clear the subways for development and informed the Planning Commission about its reservation on the project through a letter issued on December 11.
The government has planned to construct five metro rails known as mass rapid transit (MRT) lines under the Strategic Transport Plan (STP) - a revision of which was approved by the cabinet in last August.
Officials said the DTCA has already started feasibility study on two MRT lines -- MRT-1 and MRT-5 -- which are planned to be developed elevated and underground.
"There are possibilities of having conflict with MRT 1, 2 and 5 with the proposed lines of the subways," said an official.
He said the feasibility study to be done for the subways would be wastage of the government fund as the DTCA is already conducting a study with Japanese grant.
Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) has taken a project to conduct feasibility study on the proposed subways at a cost of Tk 2.42 billion on a perception that the subways would be sustainable, safe and affordable than the metro rails.
According to a pre-feasibility study, the BBA proposed subways routes are: Aminbazar to Narayanganj, Aminbazar to Saidabad, Gabtoli to Keraniganj and Rampura TV Station to Sadarghat.
The DTCA is responsible for giving clearance to any transport sector projects in the city taken by other agencies. The Prime Minister's directives in taking clearance from the DTCA came when the cabinet approved the revised STP in August.
DTCA officials said the first route of the subway will overlap with MRT-1 while the third route with MRT-5 and fourth route with MRT-1 and 5 at some points.
Though the second subway route would overlap with MRT-2, DTCA gave its consent to conduct the BBA study as no study was conducted on the MRT-2.
Different quarters had criticised the subway proposal when it was shared with different stakeholders early this year.
Though BBA's mandate is to construct bridges over 1.5-kilometre, it has been given the authority to construct elevated expressways and tunnels under the river through an act passed recently.
smunima@yahoo.com
