The interim government has decided not to proceed with the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service on the Dhaka-Gazipur route, citing additional time and funding requirements. The project will only be completed after the ongoing work on a flyover and several stations is finished, and the next government will decide whether to launch the service.

Sheik Moinuddin, special assistant to the chief adviser on the road transport and bridges ministry, said this during a discussion with Reporters for Rail and Road at Rail Bhaban.

The BRT project, first launched in November 2012, aimed to reduce congestion along the busy Dhaka-Gazipur corridor. By June this year, 97.43 percent of the work was completed, and Dhaka BRT PLC, the state-run company overseeing the project, had floated tenders for buses. However, prolonged delays have caused years of inconvenience for passengers.

Approximately Tk 2,800 crore has already been spent out of the estimated Tk 4,268.3 crore project cost. Several elevated stations with escalators were built, but 22 escalators were damaged during last year’s unrest. Moinuddin said it would require around Tk 6,000 crore to fully operationalize the BRT, adding that procuring buses would extend beyond the interim government’s tenure.

Prof. Hadiuzzaman of BUET criticized the project for poor planning, faulty design, and an unsuitable route. He noted that the Dhaka airport to Gazipur stretch cannot function independently and would not be economically viable. He suggested that further investment may not be wise, and authorities should focus on optimizing existing roads.

Originally called the Greater Dhaka Sustainable Urban Transport Project, it was slated for completion in December 2016 at a cost of Tk 2,037.9 crore. Delays were caused by land acquisition issues, utility relocations, design changes, contractor funding problems, and the pandemic. The total cost has now risen to Tk 4,268.3 crore, with a new deadline this December.

The BRT was expected to cut travel time from Gazipur to Dhaka to 35–40 minutes, but journeys currently take between 1.5 to 3 hours.

Moinuddin also highlighted that the government is drafting a comprehensive transport master plan, as road, rail, shipping, and aviation authorities currently operate in isolation. Emphasis is shifting toward rail and waterway systems due to rising traffic on major highways.

Bangladesh Railway Director General Afzal Hossain suggested revising rail fares, noting that fares have not changed in nine years while operational costs continue to rise. He added that even after reducing expenses, the railway loses Tk 1 for every Tk 2 spent, partly due to a shortage of locomotives and carriages.

Officials from the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority, Roads and Highways Department, Dhaka Mass Transit Company, and Reporters for Rail and Road also participated in the meeting.