BBA likely to drop subway project

Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) is finally considering dropping the plan to develop subway network from its rules of business what sources said due to its failure to find financiers for any of the four priority routes during the last three years.

As the latest study carried out under the initiative to update 20-year Strategic Transport Plan (STP) did not include the subway as a transport option for the city until 2045, the idea of dropping the subway development project is being considered.

Bridge Division Secretary Mohammad Abdur Rouf confirmed the development, noting that since a dedicated authority for metro rail development already exists, it may take any decisions on subway network development. "We have to rethink the subway, considering all these issues," he told the FE.

The BBA tried to find financiers after an expensive study showed 258-kilometre subway network feasible in 2022. Since then, the authority has repeatedly presented funding proposals to development partners from Korea and Japan.

The BBA which was responsible for constructing, operating and maintaining bridges with the length of 1.5 kilometre conducted the study spending over Tk 3.0 billion during 2018-2022 period though train-based mass transit system does not fall under its jurisdiction as outlined in the BBA Act 2016.

In 1985, Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge Authority was formed through an ordinance, which was renamed Bangladesh Bridge Authority through the gazette published in 2007.

Later the BBA took the initiative to include flyovers, tunnels, elevated expressways and others into its rules of business, but a subway system was not part of its jurisdiction when the initiative to launch study was taken.

Facing criticism for carrying out the study, the BBA subsequently moved to amend the BBA Act to incorporate all subway-related activities. At that time, the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) was already tasked with developing six MRT lines, both underground and elevated, in the city's different corridors under the STP 2015.

The study recommended the development of four out of a total of 11 routes under a public-private partnership. Cost of each of the routes was estimated at US$8 billion totalling $32 billion.

The most recent Japan-Bangladesh Joint Platform meeting held in March also concluded without attracting any interests from the Japanese companies. The bridge division secretary said considering to rethink subway was discussed with the principal secretary after holding meetings.

In February, Mr Rouf, who was also the managing director in-charge of DMTCL before joining as the secretary of bridge division, said the final decision to exclude the subway network from the BBA's jurisdiction or drop the project will come from the government.

TYPSA, in association with PADECO, BCL Associates Ltd, BETS and KS Consultants were selected as consultants for the feasibility study and preliminary design for the construction of subway which is named Dhaka Subway.

smunima@yahoo.com