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Dhaka, 29 October (HIST). Questions have been raised over the Metro Rail project started to control traffic in the capital Dhaka during the tenure of deposed Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina. The interim government that came into existence after the fall of Hasina government has announced to review the project. The estimated cost of this project has been questioned.
According to the news of Prothom Alo, a Bengali newspaper (English edition) published from Dhaka, serious objection has been raised to the selection of the new route of the metro by the former Hasina government. It has also been alleged that the decision to get the route which should have been completed first, completed last was taken to benefit a particular group. The former government changed its priority for this group.
Officials of the ministries associated with this project said that the interest of the common people was not kept in mind in prioritizing the new metro rail track. Even the route decided for the construction is wrong. After questions were raised on the project, the Ministry of Roads and Bridges is setting priorities afresh. Ministry advisor Faujul Kabir Khan said the existing priority list will be reviewed.
Controversy: According to Prothom Alo, questions have been raised mainly on MRT Line-5. It was to be constructed from Gabtoli to Dasherkandi via Technical Square, Kalyanpur, Shyamoli, College Gate, Asad Gate, Russell Square, Caravan Bazaar, Hatirjheel, Tejgaon, Aftabnagar, Aftabnagar Centre, Aftabnagar East and Nasirabad. The concerned authorities have said that MRT Line-2 should be given priority over Line-5 (Southern Route). Line-2 was to carry passengers from Gabtoli to Narayanganj via Dhaka Udyan, Mohammadpur, Jigtala, Science Laboratory, New Market, Azimpur, Palashi, Dhaka Medical College, Gulistan, Motijheel, Kamalapur. Line-2 project also includes construction of a branch line from Gulistan to Sadarghat.
What did the Planning Commission say-
The Line-2 project is more important than the MRT Line-5 project. However, the project has been placed in the last slot of the priority list. There has been no significant progress in this project even though the feasibility study for the Line-5 project has already been completed. Even the technical design and procurement plan has been finalised. Planning Commission officials are saying that there are not that many commercial or industrial areas in the areas along the route of Line-5. Apart from this, this route is very close to Line-6, which is already in service. Residents of areas from Gabtoli to Asad Gate can get service from this line within a distance of one or two kilometres. However, construction of Line-2 would have benefited more people. Therefore, it is more appropriate to first implement the proposed project to construct Line-2, which connects many of the most densely populated areas of the city, including New Market, Dhanmondi and Old Dhaka.