The government plans to have the pre-feasibility studies for the first two monorails carried out by the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).
It will be done to speed up the development of five monorail corridors that have initially been planned in the capital.
Officials say discussions with BUET are going on, keeping in mind their lack of experience and expertise, as the government wants to start construction as soon as possible.
They say BUET has preliminarily agreed to conduct monorail 1 and 2 studies with the support of foreign consultants to meet the government's target to complete the tasks in three months.
In addition to BUET, Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) also requested Infrastructure Investment Facilitation Company (IIFC), a specialised service providing company of the government, to conduct the monorail studies.
However, IIFC declined the request on the grounds of a lack of strength.
DTCA Executive Director Mohammad Moshiur Rahman says discussions with BUET are now underway and the university is reviewing its strength to do the tasks.
He says DTCA has guided them in hiring foreign consultants from countries where monorail has been successful.
Consultants from France and Malaysia have shown interest in supporting the government in doing the studies, he adds.
In the Updating Revised Strategic Transport Plan (URSTP), monorail 1 has been suggested from Jamuna Future Park to Dhaka Airport through Bashundhara, 25 ECB Army Camp-Jalshiri (sector 11), Purbachal CBD, Namapar Road-Asian City, Dokkhin Khan, and Hajj Camp.
Monorail 2 has been suggested from Madhya Badda Bazar to Bhulta via Satarkul, Sun Valley Abasan, Kayetpara, Murapara, and Majhipara.
The length of Monorail 1 is estimated at 25.2 kilometres, while Monorail 2 will be 14.6 kilometres.
DTCA proposed five monorail routes in URSTP with an estimated length of 80 kilometres, linking those with six mass rapid transit (MRT) lines.
The monorail corridors were proposed without studies under URSTP, under which a good number of studies have been done since 2022 to prepare the final report on the transport plans for Dhaka and its surrounding areas till 2045.
Monorail was not in the terms of reference, according to sources.
The present government prioritises monorail network development as it is a less expensive and less time-consuming urban transport system than metro rail, with the possibility to connect congested city areas.
smunima@yahoo.com