Dhaka Metro Rail

Line-6 under construction in 2020

The deal for construction of the MRT Line-6, costing US$2.8 billion, was signed by the Government of Bangladesh with the Japan International Cooperation Agency on 20 February 2013.[14] Construction began on 26 June 2016 with an inauguration ceremony presided over by the prime minister Sheikh Hasina.[15] Civil engineering work was done by the Italian-Thai Development Public Company Ltd. and China's Sinohydro Corporation Ltd. JV, and a Tokyo-based construction company developed the depot's land.[16][17]

Construction work was divided into eight packages, covering aspects like depots, stations and rolling stock.[18]

When construction commenced in 2016, the Metro Rail was expected to open by the end of 2019.[15] By 2018, this expectation was still held to, but by 2019, completion of phase one was delayed to December 2021.[19] In 2018, the second phase was expected to be complete by December 2020.[19][20] Eventually, these dates were pushed back, with phase one opening in 2022 and phase two expected in 2023.[21] The main reason for the delays from 2020 to 2022 was the COVID-19 pandemic.[22]

Originally, the project cost was Tk 219,850 million but it was later increased by Tk 114,870 million to Tk 334,720 million, although the full Project is not yet completed. The first route, originally projected to start from Uttara, a northern area of Dhaka, to Sayedabad, in the south of the capital,[23] was eventually extended north to Uttara and truncated south to Motijheel.[24] The original length which was 20.10 km (12.49 mi) has been increased by 1.16 km to 21.26 km (13.21 mi). It was planned to have 16 stations originally but it has been increased to 17 stations.[25]

The project was originally reported to be a 27 km (17 mi) underground metro rail line. It was later confirmed to be an elevated and underground metro rail project.[26] In 2014, it was reported that 56 trains would run on the metro system.[27] It was confirmed that 24 vehicles would run on the MRT Line-6.[19] It was planned to have six lines.

MRT Line-6's train made its first run on 29 August 2021. It traveled from Diabari Depot to Mirpur 12. It successfully made its second run on 29 November 2021. It traveled from Uttara to Mirpur 10. The line's train made its longest trial run on 12 December 2021. It traveled from Uttara to Agargaon. The train ran for 11.3 km (7.0 mi). It ran at 100 km/h for 9 km (5.6 mi) and ran at 15–20 km (9.3–12.4 mi) for the rest.[28]

The construction of the 19.872 km (12.348 mi) long underground line, MRT Line-1 (Airport Route), is set to begin in December 2022, costing US$6.1 billion after many delays. Its deadline is set for 2026.[37] It will start from Shahjalal International Airport and stop at Kamalapur Railway Station. The line will have 12 underground stations. Stations will be constructed at Shahjalal International Airport, Shahjalal International Airport Terminal 3, Khilkhet, Jamuna Future Park, Notun Bazar, Uttar Badda, Badda, Hatirjheel East, Rampura, Malibagh, Rajarbagh and Kamalapur Railway Station. MRT Line-1 will have an interchange of MRT Line-6, MRT Line-2 and MRT Line-4 at Kamalapur Railway Station. There will be interchange for the MRT Line-5 Northern Route and the MRT Line-1's Purbachal route at the Notun Bazar. Hatirjheel East of MRT Line-1 and Aftab Nagar West Station of MRT Line-5: Southern Route will have Interchange. Above all, the airport will have an interchange of MRT Line-1 with BRT Line-3.[33] The government will provide US$1.5 billion while the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will fund US$4.6 billion.[38] The use of soundless TBMs will make it possible to build MRT-1's underground infrastructure without disrupting the daily lives of residents and businesses.

MRT Line-1 (Purbachal Route) will be 11.369 km (7.064 mi) long and it will have stations at Notun Bazar, Jamuna Future Park, Bashundhara, Police Officers’ Housing Society, Mastul, Purbachal West, Purbachal Centre, Purbachal Sector-7 and Purbachal depot. Of these stations, Notun Bazar and Jamuna Future Park would be underground as a part of the airport route.[39]

MRT Line-2 will connect Gabtali with Chittagong Road. The stations on this route are - Gabtali, Embankment Road, Basila, Mohammadpur, Lalmatia, Dhanmondi-27, Sat Masjid Road, Jigatola, Dhanmondi-2, Science Laboratory, Elephant Road, New Market, Nilkhet, BUET, Azimpur, Dhaka Medical College. Wari, Motijheel, Arambagh, Kamalapur Railway Station, Mugda, Manda, Demra and finally Chittagong Road. The length of this line will be 24 km (15 mi). It will cost about 3 billion dollars.

MRT Line-4 will connect Kamalapur Railway Station with Narayanganj with elevated and underground lines (planned).[39] Length of this line will be 16 km (9.9 mi). According to a survey conducted by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), MRT Line-4 will run parallel to an existing line which will be converted to a dual gauge railway line by the order of the Bangladesh Railway Authority. MRT Line-4 may not be financially viable.[40]

Construction of MRT Line-5 (Northern Route) will begin in September 2023.[41] MRT Line-5 (Northern Route) will start from Hemayetpur of Savar Upazila and end at Vatara (at Bashundhara), costing US$4.85 billion.[39] It expected to be 20 km (12 mi) long in total.[39] Northern route will be 13.5 km (8.4 mi) underground and 6.5 km (4.0 mi) elevated. It will have 14 stations, of which 9 stations will be underground. Those underground stations will be constructed at Gabtoli, Darus Salam, Mirpur 1, Mirpur 10, Mirpur 14, Kachukhet, Banani, Gulshan-2 and Notun Bazar. 5 stations will be elevated. 5 elevated stations will be constructed at Hemayetpur, Baliarpur, Bilamalia, Amin Bazar and Vatara (at Bashundhara R/A). MRT Line-5 (Northern Route) will have depot at Hemayetpur of Savar Upazila.[42]

The MRT Line-5 (Southern Route), which is about 17.4 km (10.8 mi) long, is expected to be operational between 2027-2030. It will connect Gabtoli with Dasherkandi. The stations on this route are Gabtoli, Technical Circle, Kallyanpur, Shyamoli, College Gate, Asad Gate, Russell Square, West Panthapath, Karwan Bazar, Hatirjheel, Tejgaon, Niketon, Aftabnagar West, Aftabnagar Center, Aftabnagar East and lastly Dasherkandi. It is possible to interchange with MRT 5 (Northern Route).

MRT Line-6 has 17 elevated stations each 180 meters long and 21.26 km (13.21 mi) of electric light rail track (LRT). All Line-6 and some attending LRTs, except the depot, have been elevated above the existing roads to allow traffic flow below.

This line consists of three phases, of which only the first is currently operational.

• Opened on 29 December 2022, from Uttara North to Agargaon. 11.73 kilometers (7.29 mi)
• Slated for completion by October 2023, from Agargaon to Motijheel. 8.37 kilometers (5.20 mi)
• Slated for completion in December 2025, from Motijheel to Kamalapur. 1.16 kilometers (0.72 mi)

The fares range from minimum ৳20 to maximum ৳100 (for MRT line 6). Passengers can get 10% discount for paying fares on either MRT pass or Rapid Pass. Each of the multiple-use contactless smart card has almost the same facilities.[43] On the other hand single-use contactless smart card ticket can be bought from ticket vending machines at the station. The passenger will have to leave the single-use card after completing the journey.