N’ganj-Joydebpur electric train project may render MRT 4 unnecessary

Infographics: TBS

Highlights

• MRT 4 paused. Final decision pending review
• Electric train project costs Tk3,300cr vs MRT 4's Tk30,000cr
• Proposal will go to the Planning Commission
• The commuter service will start in 2028
• DTCA flagged MRT 4 for lacking proper approvals

The proposed MRT Line 4, designed to connect Dhaka's Kamalapur and Narayanganj, may be shelved as Bangladesh Railway progresses with plans to launch 16 sets of electric commuter trains along the Narayanganj-Dhaka-Joydebpur route as a far more cost-effective option.

Authorities estimate the electric commuter train project to be Tk3,300 crore – a fraction of the staggering Tk30,000 crore projected for MRT 4.

This shift in plans was hinted at during an inter-ministerial meeting held on 17 February. The minutes noted that MRT 4 was always considered a conditional project, dependent on the realisation of the railway's own expansion initiatives.

According to the Revised Strategic Transport Plan (RSTP), if the railway line from Kamalapur to Narayanganj is upgraded to a double track and equipped for commuter service, MRT 4 would no longer be necessary.

Officials from the Planning Commission said that under an ongoing project, the double-tracking of the Dhaka-Narayanganj route has already been completed. Besides, preparatory work on electric commuter trains from Narayanganj to Joydebpur is also nearing completion.

A senior Planning official said running electric commuter trains on this route would cost about one-tenth of what the MRT 4 would require. "Moreover, with the commuter system, trains can stop every 10 to 15 minutes to pick up and drop off passengers."

Meanwhile, all activities related to MRT Line 4, including feasibility studies, will remain suspended until a final decision is made in the Midterm Review of the Strategic Transport Plan (2015-2035), as decided in an inter-ministerial coordination meeting chaired by Neelima Akhter, executive director of the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA), on 19 March.

According to the meeting minutes, Neelima Akhter asked the representative from Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) whether the necessary approvals had been obtained for the implementation or feasibility study of the MRT 4 project, or what stage the approval process was at.

It was noted that initiating a feasibility study based solely on discussions with foreign aid agencies, without proper approval from the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges and the Planning Commission, poses a risk of wastage or misuse of government funds.

Narayanganj-Joydebpur electric commute

Habibur Rahman, project director of the feasibility study for electric trains from Narayanganj to Chattogram via Dhaka, told TBS that the proposal for the first phase is nearing completion.

Under this phase, 16 sets of electric commuter trains will be introduced on the Narayanganj–Kamalapur-Joydebpur route, with an estimated cost of Tk3,300 crore.

Surveys and detailed design work covering the full 348km stretch from Narayanganj through Dhaka to Chattogram have already been completed, along with specifications for electric rolling stock.

"The project proposal is currently being prepared and is expected to be submitted to the Planning Commission for approval soon. Also, funding proposals will be sent to development partners via the Economic Relations Division," Rahman added.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) conducted the feasibility study, estimating the cost of electric traction and related infrastructure at $27.16 million. An additional $32 million is projected for workshop construction, and $196 million for rolling stock procurement. 

The tendering process is expected to be completed by 2026, with electric commuter train operations scheduled to begin in 2028. Four operational plans have been proposed, with train intervals of 30, 20, 15, and 10 minutes.

The commuter service will be dedicated to passenger transport only, with a projected travel time of 50 minutes from Narayanganj to Joydebpur.

What about MRT Line 4?

Officials from the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) noted that a mid-term review of the RSTP (2015–2035) is currently underway.  

They said a final decision on MRT 4 will be made in the updated version of the plan, which will evaluate route selection based on factors such as passenger volume, carbon emissions, travel time savings, and operating costs.

According to Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), the 16km MRT 4 – featuring a combination of elevated and underground tracks from Kamalapur to Madanpur in Narayanganj – is still under proposal, with a feasibility study currently underway following the appointment of consultants in May 2024.

Under the current plan, the Kamalapur–Jatrabari section would run underground, while a bridge would need to be constructed over the Shitalakshya River at Kanchpur.  

The route from Kanchpur to Madanpur would be elevated. DMTCL estimates the total project cost could reach Tk30,000 crore, although final figures will depend on the feasibility study's findings.