The proposed combined cost of Bangladesh’s MRT Line-1 and MRT Line-5 Northern projects remains above Tk 2 lakh crore even after the government cut Tk 9,741.84 crore from their latest revised estimates.

According to the newly restructured Development Project Proposals (DPPs), the combined estimated cost of the two projects has been proposed at Tk 2,04,243.25 crore.

The revisions were made following decisions taken at a Project Evaluation Committee (PEC) meeting held on August 30. The revised DPPs were sent to the Planning Commission on Sunday, September 13.

Earlier in August, the implementing agency, Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), had proposed increasing the combined cost of the two projects to Tk 2,13,985 crore.

When implementation of the projects began in 2019, their combined original estimated cost was Tk 93,799.98 crore.

MRT Line-1 Cost Revised to Tk 1.14 Lakh Crore

The proposed cost of the 31.24-kilometre MRT Line-1, connecting the airport with Kamalapur, has been reduced from Tk 1,20,794.13 crore to Tk 1,14,394.89 crore.

The project, being implemented with financing from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is Bangladesh’s first underground metro rail project.

Its original estimated cost was Tk 52,561.43 crore, with completion initially targeted for December 2026. The revised proposal now sets 2033 as the completion target.

Under the revised DPP, the government’s contribution is proposed to rise by 133% to Tk 30,552.26 crore, while JICA’s loan portion would increase by 112.53% to Tk 83,842.63 crore.

The revised proposal attributes the increased cost and timeline to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, difficulties in finalizing designs and tender documents, and procedural complexities associated with implementing the country’s first underground metro project.

Major Changes to MRT Line-1

The revised plan also proposes changes to the size and design of several stations based on operational requirements and stakeholder feedback.

While stations were initially designed to be 250 metres long, some will now be expanded. The proposed lengths include:

Notun Bazar: 670 metres

Kamalapur: 420 metres

Airport: 380 metres

North Badda: 271 metres

Changes have also been proposed to station entrances, exits and ventilation shafts. Rajarbagh station is proposed to become a three-storey structure instead of the previously planned two-storey design.

The project also includes plans to construct nearly 20 kilometres of alternative roads to help manage traffic disruption during construction.

MRT Line-5 Northern Cost Nearly Doubles

The revised cost of the 20-kilometre MRT Line-5 Northern project, connecting Hemayetpur and Bhatara, has been reduced from Tk 93,190.96 crore to Tk 89,848.36 crore.

Despite the reduction, the project cost is still 117.87% higher than its original estimate of Tk 41,238.54 crore approved in 2019.

The project’s government funding is proposed to increase by 84.22% to Tk 22,330 crore, while JICA financing would rise by 131.89% to Tk 67,518 crore.

The project was also affected by a roughly one-and-a-half-year suspension of procurement and implementation activities during the interim government period, partly due to concerns over high prices proposed by Japanese contractors.

The MRT Line-5 Northern corridor is planned to run from Hemayetpur to Bhatara. The Hemayetpur-Aminbazar section will be elevated, while the Aminbazar-Bhatara section will be underground because of the area's high population density.

The original target was to fully commission the route by 2028. The revised proposal now targets 2032 for completion.

MRT Line-5 Southern Proposed at Tk 45,503 Crore

Meanwhile, the estimated cost of the proposed 17.20-kilometre MRT Line-5 Southern project has been set at Tk 45,503 crore.

Around 13.10 kilometres of the route will run underground.

The project, proposed for financing by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and South Korea, is scheduled to be presented to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for final approval.

Of the total cost, ADB and South Korea are expected to provide Tk 30,306 crore in loans, while the remaining Tk 15,197 crore will come from the government’s own funds.

The route will connect Gabtoli and Dasherkandi, using a combination of underground and elevated sections.