Staff Reporter:
The government has planned to upgrade the Dhaka-Gazipur BRT corridor into six lanes by reorganising the existing Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) infrastructure project to ensure smoother, faster and uninterrupted traffic movement.
“Under the plan, three lanes will be allocated for general traffic in each direction. To this end, the removal of BRT stations, lane dividers and associated infrastructure is being considered,” official familiar with the process said here recently.
The plan also includes upgrading two existing two-lane flyovers into four lanes, he said.
The issue was discussed at a cabinet meeting held here on October 18 with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in the chair, according to a letter issued by the Road Transport and Highways Division on October 19.
The cabinet meeting decided to dissolve Dhaka Bus Rapid Transit PLC and transfer it under the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) for oversight, it said.
The letter said that authorities concerned have been asked to submit an initial progress report on implementing the decisions within 15 days.
“They must also submit updated progress reports by the third day of each month until the decisions are fully implemented,” it added.
Talking to BSS, RHD Chief Engineer Md Moniruzzaman said, “We have been informed about the government’s decision and are taking necessary steps in this regard.
“In line with the instructions, an initial progress report on implementation will be submitted to the relevant authorities within the next 15 days…Further measures will be taken in accordance with the government’s directives,” he added.
The 20.5-kilometre BRT corridor project was approved in November 2012, which was initially scheduled for completion by December 2016 at an estimated cost of Taka 2,037.9 crore, he said.
The chief engineer said, however, implementation delays and several revisions pushed the estimated cost to Taka 4,268.32 crore.
According to the project details, the project was financed by the government of Bangladesh, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the French development agency Agence Française de Développement (AFD).
By December 2024, around 97 percent of the infrastructure work had been completed, while overall physical progress stood at 77.48 percent. The project’s tenure expired in December that year and was not extended.
Although the dedicated BRT lanes were subsequently opened to general traffic, the planned BRT service could not be launched after two initiatives to procure buses failed.
In July 2025, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) rejected a proposal to increase the project cost to Taka 6,598 crore and extend its tenure until December 2029.
It also ordered an investigation into the project’s design and feasibility study.
The government subsequently considered four options for the project’s future: completing the BRT project, introducing bus services under a route-franchising system, converting the corridor into a toll-based expressway, or turning it into a conventional highway. The government ultimately opted for the last option.
According to the decision, the BRT corridor is proposed to be converted into a six-lane conventional highway by removing the BRT stations and lane dividers. The proposal also includes upgrading two existing two-lane flyovers into four lanes.
A review team from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) had also recommended abandoning plans to launch the BRT service, citing design flaws and limited capacity.
The team suggested using the existing infrastructure for general traffic instead of making further investments in the project.
In October 2025, the interim government had also decided against launching BRT services on the Dhaka-Gazipur route, citing the additional time and funding required.
The decision has, however, raised concerns among urban planners and civic organisations. The Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) has described the move as a setback for sustainable and inclusive public transport and called for its reconsideration.
It said the decision is inconsistent with the recommendations of the Gazipur Transport Master Plan and Dhaka’s Revised Strategic Transport Plan (RSTP).
The BIP warned that the move could prioritise private car use while failing to adequately address the public transport needs of residents of Gazipur and Uttara, who have endured years of disruption due to construction work.
After years of delays, cost escalation and implementation challenges, the government has planned to convert the Dhaka-Gazipur corridor into a six-lane conventional road.
Ensuring the optimal use of existing infrastructure, managing traffic congestion, improving road safety and maintaining access to public transport will be key considerations in delivering benefits to the public, the report added.
