A pre-survey mission from South Korea is visiting Bangladesh as part of the transport master plan and preliminary feasibility study for urban metro rail transit construction in Chattogram metropolitan area.

The team will stay in Bangladesh till February 16, said the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) on Sunday.

KOICA, in collaboration with Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA), Road Transport and Highways Division (RTHD), Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, launched the pre-survey for the two years project titled "Transport Master Plan and Preliminary Feasibility Study for Urban Metro Rail Transit Construction, Chattogram Metropolitan Area."

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DTCA, under the Road Transport and Highways Division, will partner with KOICA to implement this project.

The team will also visit Chattogram city's different road sections to see the current condition.

After the field survey, the team will share the result on February 15, 2022, with Secretary RTHD.

The main purpose of this project is to prepare for the basis for urban transport infrastructure according to the concentration of population, urban expansion, and traffic congestion.

KOICA team participate kick-off meeting of the pre-survey mission with Nazrul Islam, Secretary of RTHD, including officials from RTHD and DTCA.

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KOICA would provide US$ 6 million grant aid to develop the master plan and basic plan.

The KOICA expert team will have a series of discussions with all the relevant stakeholders, including Bangladesh Roads Transport and Highway Division (RTHD), Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA), Chattogram City Corporation (CCC), Chattogram Development Authority (CDA), Divisional Commissioner's Office, Chattogram, Police Commissioner, Chattogram Metropolitan Police, Chattogram Port Authority, Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology, RHD, Chattogram.

South Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Lee Jang-keun and Deputy Country Director of KOICA Bangladesh Office Taehyun Kim had a courtesy meeting with Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader and briefed the plan.

Kim hoped that this project will support the Bangladesh government in developing a master plan for mass transit and reducing traffic congestion in the port city.