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The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has urged Bangladesh's newly elected government to make a swift decision on the long-delayed Airport-Gazipur Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, which has remained stalled despite nearing completion.
Officials say the lender raised the issue during a high-level review meeting in Dhaka, warning that prolonged uncertainty over the project could lead to further deterioration of infrastructure and complicate the repayment of development loans tied to the scheme.
The development partner raised the issue at the Tripartite Portfolio Review Meeting (TPRM) with the Economic Relations Division (ERD) and various project implementing agencies on Wednesday, officials said.
ADB's Regional Head (Operations Coordination Unit) Bouadokpheng Chausabat, ERD Secretary Md Shariar Kader Siddiky, ADB Country Director in Bangladesh Hoe Yun Jeong and ERD Additional Secretary SM Jakaria Huq attended the two-day TPRM meeting at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Dhaka.
The 20.5-kilometre dedicated bus corridor, once envisioned as a solution to the chronic traffic congestion on the N3 highway, has remained in a state of operational limbo since late 2025.
During the meeting, ADB officials expressed concern over the "halted" status of the project, which is officially reported to have completed 97 per cent of its civil works.
Officials attending the TPRM said the ADB highlighted that over $256 million of the total $305 million commitment from the ADB and Agence Française de Développement (AFD) has already been disbursed.
The lender warned that the delay is leading to the deterioration of existing construction and rusting of materials on-site, which will increase recovery costs.
The ADB emphasised that revenue from BRT operations is essential to begin the repayment cycle for the massive loans incurred.
However, the interim government has maintained a cautious approach and rejected a fourth cost revision by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) in late 2025.
A technical probe team was subsequently formed to investigate "loopholes and anomalies". Led by Professor Dr Md Shamsul Hoque of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), the committee is examining several critical issues.
The project was criticised by the former Planning Adviser as "monstrous and unplanned", with technical experts suggesting that the narrowing of existing lanes for general traffic may actually worsen overall congestion.
The committee is also reviewing "anomalies" surrounding the procurement of specialised buses.
Previous tenders were cancelled amid allegations of corruption and inflated pricing, with some quotes for electric buses reportedly rising by several hundred per cent.
With the projected cost ballooning from Tk 20.40 billion to a staggering Tk 66 billion, the government is questioning whether the project remains economically viable.
While the ADB is pushing for a "quick decision", the technical committee has yet to submit its final report.
The government has indicated that no further funds will be allocated until the probe provides a clear path forward - either through a "remedial design" to address technical flaws or by repurposing the existing infrastructure.
The ADB has suggested that if a full-scale BRT system is not immediately feasible, the government should consider introducing an interim dedicated bus lane using existing fleets to provide some relief to the millions of commuters travelling along the Dhaka-Gazipur route.
Meanwhile, the ADB concluded its two-day TPRM on Wednesday to review nearly US$10 billion portfolio covering 48 ongoing projects aimed at removing bottlenecks in implementation.