Govt to Launch First Electric Train & MRT Line-5; 16 Mega Projects Worth Tk 65,517 Cr Set for ECNEC

The Government of Bangladesh is taking historic strides toward modernizing public transport by introducing the country's first-ever electric train service alongside approving the MRT Line-5 (South Route). A total of 16 development projects are scheduled to be presented at the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) meeting on Wednesday (September 16), chaired by Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairperson Tareq Rahman at the Cabinet Room of the Bangladesh Secretariat.

According to Planning Commission sources, the total estimated cost for the 16 projects (12 new and 4 revised) stands at Tk 65,517.26 crore. Out of this, the government will fund Tk 25,278.12 crore, while Tk 40,166.67 crore will be sourced through project loans from international development partners.

Country's First Electric Train:

Under the 'Implementation of Electric Traction along Narayanganj-Dhaka-Joydebpur' project, electric trains will run on the 52-kilometer route. The estimated project cost is Tk 3,823.52 crore, with Tk 942 crore funded by the government and the remainder financed by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

MRT Line-5 (South Route) Project:

Implemented by the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), the 17.20 km MRT Line-5 (South) aims to seamlessly connect the western and eastern sides of the capital from Gabtoli to Dasherkandi. The project is budgeted at Tk 45,503.77 crore, with ADB and South Korea's EDCF providing Tk 30,306.10 crore in loans and the government contributing Tk 15,197.66 crore. The implementation period spans from September 1, 2026, to August 31, 2033.

Out of the 17.20 km route, a 13.10 km stretch from Gabtoli to Aftabnagar will be underground (16 to 38 meters deep), while the remaining 4.10 km from Aftabnagar to Dasherkandi will be elevated. The line will feature 15 stations (11 underground, 4 elevated), covering Gabtoli, Technical, Kalyanpur, Shyamoli, College Gate, Asad Gate, Shukrabad, Karwan Bazar, Hatirjheel, Tejgaon, Aftabnagar, Aftabnagar Center, Aftabnagar East, Nasirabad, and Dasherkandi.

The use of Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM) for the underground section will minimize land acquisition pressure on dense urban areas. Travel time between Gabtoli and Dasherkandi will drop to just 28 minutes. Operating 19 sets of 6-coach trains at 4.5-minute headways, the project is projected to save 214.9 million work hours and 41,220 tons of fuel annually, cutting carbon emissions by 208,000 tons. Cost optimization measures reduced the final budget proposal by Tk 2,217 crore.

Other Major Projects on the ECNEC Agenda:

• Upgradation of district highways under Rajshahi and Chattogram road zones.

• Establishment of Barishal Cantonment (Phase 2) and naval infrastructure in Khulna.

• Construction of a new dual-gauge railway line from Bogura to Sirajganj (1st Revision).

• Improved working conditions and social protection for textile and leather sector workers.

• Upgrade and expansion of power distribution systems in Monpura Island (1st Revision).

• Financial Sector Support Project (FSSP).

• Construction of Musapur Regulator and integrated flood control in Choto Feni and Bamni river basins.

• Protection of Bhola Sadar and Daulatkhan from Meghna River erosion.

• Establishment of Digital Land Management across 3 city corporations, 1 municipality, and 2 rural upazilas (2nd Revision).

• A Tk 4,000 crore Ministry of Health project targeting Tuberculosis, AIDS, and Malaria prevention.

Transportation experts emphasize that integrating these rail projects with multimodal bus feeder systems will be key to maximizing passenger adoption and urban mobility benefits.

//DBTech/JNO/SME/MIST//