United News of Bangladesh

Railways Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam on Monday told Parliament that the government has no immediate plan to establish a metro rail or monorail link between Dhaka and neighbouring Narsingdi to improve connectivity. Replying to a starred question from BNP MP Khairul Kabir Khokon (Narsingdi-1), the minister said there is currently no proposal to introduce either a metro rail or monorail service connecting Narsingdi with the capital. Dhaka's Mass Rapid Transit system is more popularly known as the 'metro rail'. However, he said the revised Final Report on Updating the Revised Strategic Transport Plan (URSTP) includes a long-term proposal to extend both MRT Line-1 and MRT Line-5 (Northern Route) to Purinda in Araihazar upazila of Narayanganj in the third phase of implementation. The minister said the network could later be extended further to Narsingdi. Shaikh Rabiul Alam also said that, in line with the current government's election manifesto pledge to introduce monorail services in Dhaka and other metropolitan cities, the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) has included a monorail feasibility assessment in its action plan to improve feeder transport services in the capital. He said a project proposal titled "Pre-Feasibility Study of Monorail Alignment Integration with Mass Transit Networks in Dhaka Metropolitan Region", prepared by the DTCA, is currently under review by the ministry. The minister added that no final decision has yet been taken on the implementation of a monorail system in Dhaka.

Railways Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam on Monday said the construction of the proposed rail-cum-road bridge over the Karnaphuli River at Kalurghat is progressing steadily, with the project expected to be completed by December 2030. Replying to a starred question from BNP MP Ershad Ullah (Chattogram-8) in Parliament, the minister said the project is being implemented in accordance with the conditions of the loan agreement signed on June 27, 2024, under which a South Korean consulting firm will provide consultancy services for the bridge construction. He said the project, titled Construction of a Rail-cum-Road Bridge over the Karnaphuli River at Kalurghat, was approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on November 17, 2024. Following the advice of the lender, the Economic Development Co-operation Fund (EDCF), the first stage of appointing a consultant through the Expression of Interest (EOI) process has already been completed, the minister said. Five South Korean consulting firms have been shortlisted through the EOI process and Requests for Proposals (RFPs) have been issued to them. The shortlisted firms submitted their proposals on June 3, 2026, and the evaluation is currently underway in line with EDCF guidelines, he said. After completing the assessment, one of the five firms will be selected to prepare the project's detailed design, the minister added. Shaikh Rabiul Alam said the project implementation is moving ahead swiftly and effectively, expressing hope that the bridge will be completed by December 2030.