Tk45,504cr MRT Line-5 among 15 projects on ECNEC agenda

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) is set to consider 15 development projects, including the Tk45,503.77 crore Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Line-5 Southern Route, at its third meeting of the current fiscal year on Wednesday.

The meeting will be held at 10am at the Cabinet Room of the Bangladesh Secretariat, with Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairman Tarique Rahman in the chair, according to a Planning Division notice.

The proposed metro rail line, MRT Line-5 Southern Route, is the largest project on the agenda. It will connect Gabtoli in the west with Dasherkandi in the east through an 

 environment-friendly mass transit system.

The project, to be implemented by Dhaka Mass Transit Company Ltd (DMTCL) under the Road Transport and Highways Division, is scheduled to run from September 2026 to August 2033.

Of the estimated cost, Tk15,197.66 crore will come from the government, while Tk30,306.10 crore will be provided as project loans by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) of South Korea.

The MRT corridor will run through Gabtoli, Technical, Kallyanpur, Shyamoli, College Gate, Asad Gate, Sukrabad, Karwan Bazar, Hatirjheel, Tejgaon, Aftab Nagar and Nasirabad before reaching Dasherkandi.

It will also connect with the MRT Line-5 Northern Route and MRT Line-1, allowing passengers to interchange between different metro corridors.

The Planning Commission has recommended approval of the project, saying it will improve connectivity between the north-south and east-west parts of Dhaka, expand environment-friendly public transport and help ease traffic congestion.

The project has undergone several revisions since it was first proposed. Its initial estimated cost was Tk54,618.96 crore, with an implementation period from January 2024 to December 2030.

Following several reviews, the cost was reduced to Tk47,721.44 crore and later to Tk47,644.81 crore. After a review meeting on 16 July this year, the estimated cost was cut by another Tk2,141.04 crore to Tk45,503.77 crore.

The largest allocation, Tk17,737.43 crore, will cover main-line civil and station works and depot civil and building works. Electrical and mechanical works and railway systems will cost Tk13,258.49 crore, while Tk4,821.24 crore will be spent on rolling stock and depot equipment.

Land acquisition, reacquisition and rehabilitation will require Tk4,979.33 crore.

The feasibility study, completed in October 2022 under an ADB-funded technical assistance programme, found the project technically, economically and environmentally feasible. Its economic analysis showed a positive net present value of Tk35,161 crore, a benefit-cost ratio of 2.41 and an internal rate of return of 18.8%.

Besides the MRT project, ECNEC will consider the third-phase upgrading of district highways under the Rajshahi and Chattogram road zones.

Two defence-related projects are also on the agenda — the second phase of establishing Barisal Cantonment and construction of accommodation and other facilities for naval personnel in the Khulna Naval Zone.

The committee will also consider the first revised Khulna Drainage System Development Project and two railway projects — introducing electric traction along the Narayanganj-Dhaka-Joydebpur section of Bangladesh Railway and the first revised project for a new dual-gauge railway line from Bogura to Sirajganj.

Under the Industries and Energy Division, the agenda includes a project to improve working conditions and social protection for textile and leather workers and the first revised project to upgrade and expand electricity distribution facilities on Manpura island.

Three projects under the Socio-Economic Infrastructure Division will also be placed before the committee: Health System Strengthening through MNCH Services Improvement and NCDs Control; Integrated Health System Response to Fight Against TB, HIV/AIDS and Malaria in Bangladesh; and the Financial Sector Support Project-II (FSSP-II).

The remaining projects include construction of the Musapur Regulator with integrated flood and river management and drainage improvement of the Chhoto Feni and Bamni rivers, and the second revised Digital Land Management System project.

The Planning Division notice also lists another 15 projects already approved by the relevant ministers, which will be placed before ECNEC for information.

These include the second revised Automation of Land Management project, construction of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society’s national headquarters, establishment of a green belt at Bhasan Char and reforestation of Rohingya-affected areas in Cox’s Bazar.

Other projects include strengthening research, conservation and development of indigenous poultry, establishing a telecommunications network in economic zones, replacing ageing and risky bridges in the Rangpur zone, and construction of an RDA building from the fifth to 10th floors.

The information agenda also includes infrastructure development at Cantonment Public School and College in Saidpur, further infrastructure development at Military Collegiate School in Khulna, the first revised Strengthening Social Protection for Improved Resilience, Inclusion and Targeting (SSPIRIT) project, and development works at the Barguna and Dinajpur district stadiums.

The second revised drilling of the Sylhet-10 exploration well is also listed for information.