THE Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) presented Dhaka’s Updated Revised Strategic Transport Plan (URSTP) on June 23. The document calls for the construction of two new metro lines and five monorail lines over the next 20 years, plus other measures to alleviate chronic road congestion in the Bangladeshi capital.
The two new metro lines - MRT Line 3 and MRT Line 8 - are in addition to the six metro lines proposed under the earlier Revised Strategic Transport Plan. The new plan also recommends extending lines currently under construction or planned.
Dhaka’s first metro, MRT Line 6, a 20.2km north-south line running from Uttara North to Motijheel, opened in stages in 2022-23.
Construction of the mostly underground Line 5 northern route started in September 2023. This 20km west-east line will connect Hemayetpur to Vatara. A 17.3km southern route branch line is planned.
Three more lines are currently planned. The 31.2km MRT Line 1 will run east-west and will serve the city’s airport. The 35km MRT Line 2 will follow a north-south alignment while the 16km MRT Line 4 will also run east-west.
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