The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has taken up a project to improve corridor facilities for metro rail passengers by 2026.

The DNCC will develop all the footpaths, parking zones, bicycle stands, access roads, service roads, and feeder roads connected to the metro rail stations under the integrated corridor management (ICM) project so that passengers can avail the service with minimal hassle.

The country’s first metro rail (MRT line 6) is being implemented between Uttara and Kamalapur, and the part of the metro rail from Uttara to Agargaon will open in December. The second part of the metro rail, from Agargaon to Motijheel, is supposed to be opened next year.   

The implementation of the ICM project will start at the beginning of 2023, aiming to facilitate metro rail passengers and at-ground pedestrians only in a 10.5km-area between Mirpur-12 and Bangla Motor, covering Mirpur, Agargaon, and Tejgaon.

The World Bank will provide $150 million as a soft loan to complete the project by 2026.  

DNCC Mayor Md Atiqul Islam confirmed the project at a press conference held in Dhaka yesterday. The press conference was arranged to inform the media about his recent US visit, where he attended various functions such as the Mayors' Migration Council (MMC) Meeting.   

“Footpaths will be redesigned and integrated with the metro rail stations, so that passengers can freely catch the metro rail,” said Mayor Atiq.

“At the same time, there will be a bus bay and ticket counter on the roads under the elevated metro rail to bring discipline,” he added.

Furthermore, the ICM project will develop a central traffic monitoring system, procure electric buses, and conduct research on traffic management.

Currently, pedestrians and passengers are severely hampered by narrow, unplanned, unmanaged footpaths and chaotic bus services on roads.  

Mayor Atiq said: “We will procure 50 new electric buses for the metro rail route.”

He said a newly-dug canal in the Civil Aviation area near Ashkona will also be decorated by constructing a park, walkway, and cycle path using the funds of the ICM project. The canal will also be maintained to prevent waterlogging.

In response to a query, the DNCC mayor said the project had indeed been taken late, but it will still benefit the people once completed.

“The road network under the elevated metro rail will be very smooth, like in a developed country, once the project is completed,” he added.

Dr Adil Mohammed Khan, professor at the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at Jahangirnagar University, told Dhaka Tribune: “The initiative of redesigning and rearranging the at-ground corridor is very appreciated. But it should be extended across Dhaka, instead of just focusing on the metro rail.”

He added that it was frustrating that pedestrians did not get priority in the planning of Dhaka city's development more often.