Japan signs loan agreement with Bangladesh for MRT Line-6 project

JICA signed Loan Agreement with the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, to provide Japanese ODA Loan of up to 18,285 million Japanese Yen (approx. Bangladesh Taka 1,333 Crore) for the Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project (V), well known as MRT Line 6. This is the fifth and the last tranche financing for the Project.

The Project was signed on March 29, 2022.

MRT Line 6 aims to alleviate traffic congestion and mitigate air pollution in Dhaka City by constructing Bangladesh’s first mass rapid transit system. The Government of Bangladesh has assigned a high priority to the MRT Line 6 Project as one of the Fast Track projects and decided to extend up to Kamalapur where it will be connected to the existing BR station and future MRT Line 1, Line 2 and Line 4 stations.

Despite COVID19 pandemic, MRT Line 6 Project has shown steady and significant progress. The entire 20.1-kilometer viaduct from Uttara to Motijheel is now visible and the people of Dhaka city already witnessed the moving of trains during test runs. Metro rail operation by DMTCL is planned within 2022, the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Bangladesh.

Once constructed, MRT Line 6 will carry 5 Lakh passengers per day and shorten the average travel time from Uttara to Motijheel from 110 minutes to 36 minutes.