There is no alternative to the construction of subways to alleviate traffic congestion and congestion in Dhaka metropolis.
Out of 11 subways, four subways of 105 km length are planned to be constructed by 2030 on priority basis.
TYPSA, a Spanish consulting firm, initially proposed 11 route alignments for the 238 km long Dhaka subway network.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister, and General Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League Obaidul Quader said while speaking as the chief guest at a seminar to seek views on the draft final report of the project titled ‘Feasibility Study for Subway Construction in Dhaka City’ held at a city hotel in the capital on Tuesday.
Land acquisition and construction will not be hampered as the tunnel constructed for the subway will pass approximately 25 to 70 meters below the surface. Once the subway is ready half of the capital’s people will be able to travel, and the city will be free from traffic jams and congestion.
The proposed four routes for subways includes, the 34.92 km long with 24 stations from Jhilmil to Tongi Junction route where the potential cost per km is about Tk 2380 crore. The 22.89 km long 14 stations Gabtali to Bholab Union route with a potential cost of around Tk 2,158 crore per km. The 25.22 km long with 15 stations Sonapur Union route from Keraniganj with a potential cost of about Tk 2217 crore per kilometer and the 45.11 km long Narayanganj route from Jahangir Nagar University with 32 stations with a potential cost of about Tk 2312 crore.
To complete the feasibility study and preliminary design work for the construction of Dhaka subway, an agreement with Tecnica Y Proyectos. S. A.(TYPSA), of Spain was signed in August 2018. Consulting firm Tecnica Y Proyectos. S. A. (TYPSA) in Association with PADECO (Japan), BCL Associates, KSC and BETS- 02 started work from September 2018 and submitted Inception Report in December 2018 and Interim Report in May 2019.
The Secretary of the Bridge Department Md. Manzoor Hossain presided over the seminar while Spanish ambassador to Bangladesh Francisco de AsísBenítez Salas, Chairman of the Standing Committee on the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges Raushan Ara Mannan, Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation Barrister Sheikh Fazle Nur Tapas, Mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation Md. Atiqul Islam also spoke on the occasion. Member of the Standing Committee on the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges Marina Jahan Kabita along with senior officials of the bridge department and concerned authorities were present at the occasion.
