Dhaka’s growing metro system has taken another leap with the launch of construction on MRT Line-5 (Northern Route), a 20-kilometre corridor set to connect Hemayetpur to Bhatara. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is providing technical and financial support.
Officials say the project will cut travel time across northern Dhaka from 2 hours to 35 minutes and reduce carbon emissions by 250,000 tonnes annually. Over 10,000 new jobs will be created during the construction phase.
Indian urban planners and policymakers are viewing this as a regional example of transit-led development. With similar projects underway in cities like Siliguri and Guwahati, Dhaka’s expansion holds valuable insights for urban South Asia.