MRT Line 2 (Dhaka Metro Rail)
| Mass Rapid Transit Line 2 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | |||
| Status | Proposed | ||
| Owner | Road Transport and Highways Division | ||
| Locale | Greater Dhaka, Bangladesh | ||
| Termini |
| ||
| Colour on map | Violet (#8031A7) | ||
| Service | |||
| Type | Rapid transit | ||
| System | Dhaka Metro Rail | ||
| Operator(s) | Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited | ||
| Depot(s) | Matuail, Demra Thana | ||
| Technical | |||
| Line length | 23.50 kilometres (14.60 mi) | ||
| Number of tracks | 2 | ||
| Character | Elevated and underground | ||
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge | ||
| Electrification | 750 V DC third rail and 1,500 V DC overhead catenary | ||
| Operating speed | 100 km/h (62 mph) | ||
| Highest elevation | 13 metres (43 ft) | ||
| |||
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The MRT Line 2 (Bengali: এমআরটি লাইন ২) is a proposed rapid transit line of Dhaka Metro Rail in Bangladesh. Despite the number, it will be the fifth of the Dhaka Metro Rail system and will be operated by Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL). It is scheduled to open in 2030.
History
In 2005, the World Bank published a study report, recommending that the government of Bangladesh build a mass transit system in Dhaka. In the same year, American consultancy firm Louis Berger Group prepared a strategic transport plan for Dhaka.[1] The World Bank helped to develop this plan, which proposed the construction of five MRT lines in Dhaka.[2] The five metro lines were MRT Line 1, MRT Line 2, MRT Line 4, MRT Line 5 and MRT Line 6.[3] On 15 June 2017, an agreement was signed between the government of Bangladesh and Japan to build MRT Line 2 on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) basis. On June 7 of the following year, a sub-working group headed by Marubeni was formed to list its construction project in the PPP.[4] It was planned to connect Gabtoli with Kamalapur through MRT Line 2. On 1 October 2019, Selina Hayat Ivy, the mayor of Narayanganj City Corporation, submitted a written request to Obaidul Quader, the Road Transport and Bridges minister, to connect Narayanganj with the Dhaka Metro network. As a result, in the meeting of the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority on 24 November 2019, it was decided to revise and extend the route of MRT Line 2 to Chittagong Road area of Narayanganj Sadar Upazila.[5] The pre-feasibility report showed that three lakh passengers could travel through this line. 24 stations were proposed on the route and the proposed length of the line was 24 km (15 mi).[4] But the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) disagreed as the PPP study by the consultancy firm recommended that Japan should take the responsibility for operation and maintenance of MRT Line 2.[6] Based on a preliminary study prepared by Oriental Consultants Global and PwC for the fiscal year 2020-21, the project was declared ineligible for implementation in a March 2021 report. However, in 2015 the finalized Strategic Transport Plan (STP) made the project feasible. According to the study, if construction is done in PPP, the government would have to bear 85% of the budget, so the government excludes it from PPP and looks for donor agencies for construction. On the other hand, with another railway project underway on the proposed route of MRT Line 2, DMTCL planned to change the route to connect the southern city of Narayanganj with the metro network. The proposed mass rapid transit line was budgeted at about ৳60,000 crore.[7]
In 2023, the government decided to request the Department of Economic Relations (ERD) to find donors to fund MRT Line 2.[8] ERD found World Bank, Japan and South Korea as potential donors.[9] On 3 July 2024, Export–Import Bank of China in a meeting with ERD expressed interest in lending 75% of the total budget of MRT Line 2.[10] On the same day, local government and rural development and co-operatives minister Md Tazul Islam was assured of financial support for the project by Hara Shohei, vice president of the Japan International Cooperation Agency.[11]
After the Yunus interim government was formed in August 2024, the Bangladesh Planning Commission, under the direction of Planning Advisor Wahiduddin Mahmud, proposed to prioritize the implementation of the proposed line considering the economic importance and population density of the route and a branch line to Bijoy Sarani with revised route of Southern Route including only Hatirjheel–Dasherkandi section.[12]
In August 2025, it had been reported that the route was revised and instead end at Demra, deviating from plans to connect MRT Line 2 to Narayanganj, with new stations at areas like Lalbagh and Mitford of Old Dhaka. The project is expeted to be funded by the World Bank. Narayanganj would be integrated to the system with a new line called MRT Line 7.[13]
Stations
List of stations are subject to change.[13]
Main line
| Code | Name | Connections | Location | Opened | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | Bengali | ||||
| 1 | Gabtoli | গাবতলী | MRT Line 5N MRT Line 5S |
Mirpur Model Thana | Planned |
| 2 | Dhaka Uddyan | ঢাকা উদ্যান | Mohammadpur Thana | ||
| 3 | Mohammadpur | মোহাম্মদপুর | |||
| 4 | Jhigatola | ঝিগাতলা | Hazaribagh Thana | ||
| 5 | Science Lab | সায়েন্স ল্যাব | Dhanmondi Thana | ||
| 6 | New Market | নিউ মার্কেট | New Market Thana | ||
| 7 | Azimpur | আজিমপুর | Azimpur | ||
| 8 | Lalbagh | লালবাগ | Lalbagh | ||
| 9 | Mitford Hospital | মিটফোর্ড হাসপাতাল | Kotwali Thana, Dhaka | ||
| 10 | Nayabazar | নয়াবাজার | Bangsal Thana | ||
| 11 | Dholaikhal | দোলাইখাল | Sutrapur Thana | ||
| 12 | Jatrabari | যাত্রাবাড়ি |  Bus stationMRT Line 4 |
Jatrabari Thana | |
| 13 | Matuail | মাতুয়াইল | Demra Thana | ||
| 14 | Konapara | কোনাপাড়া | |||
| 15 | Demra | ডেমরা | |||
Branch line
| Code | Name | Connections | Location | Opened | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | Bengali | ||||
| 1 | Gulistan | গুলিস্তান | Shahbagh Thana | Planned | |
| 2 | Golap Shah Mazar | গোলাপ শাহ মাজার | |||
| 3 | Nayabazar | নয়াবাজার | Bangshal Thana | ||
| 4 | Sadarghat | সদরঘাট | Kotwali Thana | ||
Depot
A land area totaling 65 hectares (0.65 km2) has been designated between Green Model Town and Amulia Model Town, encompassing the Matuail and Damripara mouzas in Demra. This allocation is intended for the construction of the depot, depot access corridors, and construction yards.[14]
References
- ^ Rahman, Shamim (23 December 2022). "পুরোটাই উড়ালপথে নির্মাণ ভারতের 'মেট্রো ম্যান' শ্রীধরনের পরামর্শে". Bonikbarta.net (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 26 December 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ Zaman, Sheikh Shahriar (25 December 2022). "মেট্রোরেল ছিল বিরাট এক চ্যালেঞ্জ". Bangla Tribune (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 25 December 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ "এয়ারপোর্ট থেকে কমলাপুর আন্ডারগ্রাউন্ড লাইন হচ্ছে". Kaler Kantho (in Bengali). 14 October 2019. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
- ^ a b Islam, Jahidul (17 December 2020). "Metro Rail-2 under PPP". The Business Standard. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ Sharif, Sahed (3 December 2019). "মেট্রোরেলের আওতায় আসছে নারায়ণগঞ্জ". Bangla Tribune (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ Adhikari, Tuhin Subhra (6 October 2022). "MRT-2 physical work: Funding setback may delay the start". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ "মেট্রোরেল-২ এর রুট বদল". Amader Shomoy (in Bengali). 19 October 2022. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ Kabir, FHM Humayan (1 April 2023). "Govt plans to start construction of MRT-2 and MRT-4". The Financial Express. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ Adhikary, Tuhin Subhra (1 May 2023). "Metro Line-2, -4: Japan, S Korea, WB show interests". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ "নতুন একটি মেট্রোরেলে ঋণ দিতে আগ্রহী চীন". Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 3 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "মেট্রোরেলের দুই প্রকল্পে সহায়তার আশ্বাস জাইকার". Jamuna TV (in Bengali). 3 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ Saif, Saifullah (21 September 2024). "Now focus is on linking Old Dhaka with metro". The Business Standard. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
- ^ a b "In a first, World Bank to fund metro line connecting Old Dhaka". The Business Standard. 2025-08-07. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
- ^ "Six MRT lines to crisscross Bangladesh capital by 2030". New Age. 28 December 2022. Retrieved 2024-03-07.