Revised DPP for Dhaka Metro Line-5 South to Go to Planning Commission This Week

The revised Development Project Proposal (DPP) for Dhaka Metro Line-5 (South), a 17.20-kilometre route connecting Gabtoli with Dasherkandi, is expected to be submitted to the Planning Commission this week for approval, officials said.

The proposed metro rail line is part of Dhaka’s ongoing efforts to expand its mass transit network and improve public transportation amid persistent traffic congestion across the capital.


An official involved with the project confirmed that the revised DPP has been prepared and is ready to move through the government approval process. The proposal was developed based on the findings of a feasibility study and detailed engineering design for the southern route.


The project will include both underground and elevated sections, with the alignment designed to connect key areas between Gabtoli and Dasherkandi. The combination of underground and elevated tracks is intended to allow the metro system to operate efficiently through different parts of the densely populated capital.


Brig Gen (Retd) Md Abdul Wohab, Project Director of the Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project (Line-5) Southern Route, said the necessary preparations for submitting the project proposal have been completed.


He said the DPP would be sent to the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry as part of the process before being forwarded to the Planning Commission for consideration.


The move comes as the government seeks to accelerate work on major metro rail projects in Dhaka and expand the city's public transportation infrastructure.


Metro Line-5 South is expected to play an important role in improving connectivity between western and southeastern parts of the capital. The proposed Gabtoli-Dasherkandi route could provide commuters with an alternative to road-based transportation while helping reduce pressure on heavily congested roads.


The project has been developed following technical assessments that examined the feasibility of constructing the route using both underground and elevated structures. Engineering studies have also been incorporated into the revised proposal to support decisions on construction and implementation.

According to project officials, the revised DPP represents an important step toward obtaining the necessary government approval before construction activities can begin.


Brig Gen (Retd) Wohab said the project team has completed the preparations required at this stage and will proceed in accordance with the government's instructions.


The project director also referred to the prime minister's directive to accelerate the development of metro rail infrastructure and begin construction work as soon as possible.


Once approved, the project will move into subsequent stages involving detailed implementation planning, financing and construction arrangements.


Dhaka's metro rail network is being expanded as authorities look for long-term solutions to the city's growing transportation challenges. The existing metro system has already introduced rapid rail-based transportation to several major parts of the capital, while additional lines are being planned or developed to extend coverage.


The Metro Line-5 South project is expected to complement these existing and planned routes by connecting areas that remain outside the reach of the current metro network.

The submission of the revised DPP to the Planning Commission will therefore mark a significant administrative milestone for the project. Approval from the relevant authorities will be required before the government can proceed with the next stages of implementation.


Officials are now preparing to send the proposal through the relevant ministries and agencies, with the aim of keeping the project on track for construction under the government's broader plan to strengthen Dhaka's mass transit system.