Bangladesh is entering the era of subway

As the population of Dhaka is increasing, the public transport system will not be able to handle it in the future. Even conventional projects like Metro Rail and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) are expected to suffer. For this reason, the government is planning to build a subway as a road to relieve traffic congestion.

The government has recently been examining the feasibility of the project. The feasibility study and primary design work will be completed in June this year. The cost has been estimated at 321 crores. Of this, 317 crore rupees are being spent in the consulting sector.

According to the related sources, the cost of bringing Dhaka under the subway has been estimated at 8 lakh 82 thousand 380 crores, which is about one and a half times the national budget of Bangladesh for the current financial year. But initially four routes are planned to be launched in 2030 and the construction cost will be around 3 lakh 54 thousand 521 crores.

Among these four routes, about 35 kilometers from Jhilmil to Tongi will be 2 thousand 388 crore per kilometer. About 23 km from Gabtali to Bholab Union will cost 2 thousand 158 crore per km. Keraniganj-Sonapur road of about 22 and a half kilometers will cost 2 thousand 217 crore per kilometer. And the 45 km route from Jahangirnagar University to Narayanganj will cost 2 thousand 312 crore per kilometer. The construction of four routes will take up more than half of the state's total budget for the current fiscal year. But 321 crore rupees are being spent just to dream about the dream project.

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Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) is leading the feasibility study and preliminary imaging. Spain's TIPSA is working as a consulting firm. Among the 11 routes, four routes of 105 km length are planned to be constructed by 2030 on a priority basis.

It is said that there is no crisis related to land acquisition and construction in construction of subway. If the subway is built, half of Dhaka city's 8 million workers will be able to travel underground. It will reduce traffic congestion in the city. Like the metro rail, the subway will be fully electrified. It will run in the same way as Metro Rail.

As Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) has experience in building urban railway systems, it is expected that the company will also have the responsibility of building subways. For the time being, Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) will carry out feasibility studies and preliminary design of the subway. But after the feasibility study a company will have to prepare before the start of construction.

This project will be implemented in several levels. 1st level consists of four routes installed, Route-1 : From Jhilmil in Keraniganj to Tongi Junction. There will be a total of 24 stations on this 35 km road. Jhilmil, Tegharia Bazar, Muslimnagar, Sadarghat, Gulistan, Kakrail, Hatirjheel, BG Press, Rajnigandha Market, Vasantek Govt Top School, Kalshi, Uttara Sector-17, North Baunia, Uttara Sector-14, Uttara Sector-10, Machimpur and Tongi Junction will be stationed in the area.

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Route-2 : There will be 14 stations in an area of ​​about 23 km from Gabtali to Vellab Union. There will be stations at Gabtali, Golartek, Turag City, National Zoo, Purbachal, Gabtali-Vhelab Union Sector-11, Purbachal Sector-21, Purbachal Sector East, Purbachal Malum City and Velab Union.

Route-3: There will be 15 stations from Keraniganj to Sonapur about 26 and a half kilometers. The stations will be ready at Keraniganj, Kamrangir Char, Lalbagh, Chawkbazar, Nayabazar, Keraniganj-Sutrapur, Syedabad, Jatrabari, Dania, Rayerbagh, Matuail, Signboard, Sanarpar, Mouchak, Chittagong Road, Kanchpur and Sonapur.

Route-4: There will be 32 stations in an area of ​​45 km from Jahangirnagar University to Chashadha in Narayanganj. Jahangirnagar University, Ashulia Model East, Uttara Sector-16, Uttara North, Azampur Kachha Bazar, Shah Kabir Mazar North, Aftabnagar North, West Nandipara, Green Model Town, Matuail Road, Nandipara South, Barua South, Vasundhara South, Sun Valley Zwarba Para, Shanir Akhra, Rayer Bagh, East Mohammad Bagh, Fatulla Station, DC Office New Court and Chashadha area of ​​Narayanganj will be railway stations.

According to analysts, Dhaka's public transport system will not be able to cope with the speed of population growth in the future. As a result, the pressure on the train will increase. In that case it is difficult for Metrorail to handle this pressure. As a result, this initiative of the government is considered to be timely. Even if the cost is high, it will be beneficial. The common people of the state will be the beneficiaries.