Bangladesh’s first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, connecting Dhaka airport to Joydebpur, has been plagued by delays, pushing the completion timeline to 2024. The Asian Development Bank estimates that the project’s eight-year delay will result in nearly a billion dollars in lost economic benefits. The original cost of Tk2,040 crore has escalated to Tk4,268 crore. ADB explains if the country’s first BRT had been completed in 2016 as per the original schedule, it would have generated economic benefits of around $123 million, equivalent to around Tk1,140 crore, per year.
The project aimed to alleviate traffic congestion, reduce travel time, and save costs associated with road usage, traffic disruption, and environmental damage. In contrast, countries like Indonesia and China completed BRT projects in record time. Experts blame inadequate feasibility studies, flawed design, land acquisition challenges, and contractor negligence for the delays. The project’s prolonged construction has caused significant hardships for commuters, businesses, and industries in Gazipur. Efforts are underway to expedite the project and launch the BRT service by September 2023.
Source for more details:
