The government has planned to expand the 20-kilometre metro rail line which is being set up from Uttara to Motijheel in the city. Officials said as per the plan, rapid transit line-6 (MRT-6) will be extended to Export Processing Zone (EPZ) at Savar from Uttara and to Kamalapur Railway Station from Motijheel. They said as the city has been expanding north-western part of the city and pressure of traffic increasing due to setting up of industries, expansion of north-south connected MRT has been planned by 2035. “Expansion plan for the MRT line-6 has been incorporated in the revised strategic transport plan (STP),” said Mohammad Kaikobad Hossain, Executive Director of Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA).Expansion of metro rail line planned He said they will also try to find the scope of expansion of the MRT-6 up to Chandra after carrying out a feasibility study. After extension, the length of MRT-6 is likely to be 41 kms, he added. However, sources said as the MRT-6 could not be extended up to Sayedabad due to construction of Mayor Hanif Flyover beyond STP, the authority has to find alternative ways to make the corridor viable. Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development (DMRTD) Project is implementing the 20.1-km MRT-6 line with technical and financial assistance from Japan. Japan International Cooperation Agency in a study conducted in 2010 found the Pallabi-Jatrabari corridor feasible to set up the first MRT, proposing setting up of depot at Pallabi. After construction of Sayedabad-Jatrabari flyover, the government then diverted the MRT-6 towards Motijheel Shapla Chattar with an aim to take the line behind Bangladesh Bank towards Sayedabad. But this option was also blocked due to allowing Mayor Hanif flyover to get expanded on different sides, sources said. DTCA officials said after the revised STP approval, they will take steps to conduct another feasibility study on the expansion of the line. They, however, said connecting the MRT-6 with Kamalapur Railway Station will be challenging due to many bends from Shapla Chattar. Also, the government’s plan to construct elevated expressway through Ashulia may also obstruct it.
