Service possible from 2014

Experts have primarily estimated costs at $183 million for the introduction of faster and seamless bus service, otherwise called Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), between Uttara and Sadarghat in the city.
They said public transportation on BRT route can be started from early 2014 if the difficulties emerged in restructuring the 22 kilometers of alignment are resolved soon.
“Local and international experts are working to overcome the bottlenecks regarding restructuring the alignment and traffic management”, said Dr Salehuddin, executive director, Dhaka Transport Coordination Board.
The experts were speaking at a seminar at Sonargaon Hotel yesterday, on the inception report on the BRT Line-3, which was outlined in the government's Strategic Transport Plan.
Dr Salehuddin said a group of international consultants, who have already done the pre-feasibility study on the alignment, will prepare a draft final report by March this year.
“We hope the detail design would be ready by the end of 2012”, he said and added, “Since the BRT route will be built on the existing road, it will not take them much time to complete”.
In the mass transport system (BRT), long-bodied buses pass seamlessly on designated routes, quickly reducing the volume of waiting passengers. A study says 25,000 people can be transported during peak hours.
Arnest J Mata of Advanced Logistic Group, who is a World Bank consultant of the BRT Line-3 project, said they were working out all the problems on the alignment.
The under-construction elevated expressway, Banani overpass, Kuril, Cantonment, Moghbazar-Mouchak, Mohakhali and Gulistan flyovers, Hatirjhel project, and the proposed metro rail are the main hurdles.
The alignment is very narrow at different points while numerous intersections and several rail crossings are the other bottlenecks to be solved before finalising the alignment and preparing a design.
The BRT Line-3 will pass through Mohakhali, Tejgaon, Moghbazar and Kakrail. From Kakrail, the route will branch off into two directions--one through Rajarbagh, DIT extension road, Bangabhaban, Kaptanbazar, and Baldha Garden and the other through Matsya Bhaban, Abdul Ghani Road, Golap Shah Mazar, and North South Road--to merge at Babu Bazar to finally reach Sadarghat.
The BRT line has an extended part, which stretches from Uttara to Gazipur. The 20 kilometers of alignment has made significant progress as the Asian Development Bank has nearly completed the detail design after doing feasibility study last year. It is expected to be complete by the next year.
Communications Minister Obaidul Quader, WB Country Director Elein Goldstein, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Prof Alamgir Mojibul Hoque, Communications Secretary MAN Siddique, Environment and Forests Secretary Meshbaul Hoque, and another consultant of the project A Peres also addressed the function.