The Road Transport and Highways Division would soon start conducting a study on introducing metro rail in the port city of Chattogram and prepare a master transport plan for the city with the assistance from South Korea.
A South Korean survey team has already arrived in Dhaka and is scheduled to visit the port city during February 8-12 to hold talks with the stakeholders concerned.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader disclosed the plan after a meeting with South Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Lee Jang Keun at Bangladesh Secretariat on Sunday.
Representatives from the Korean embassy in Dhaka, Korea International Coope-ration Agency (KOICA) and visiting team were present at the meeting.
The minister said that a project has been taken at a cost of Tk 770 million, including a Korean grant of Tk 510 million, to carry out the work, which is expected to be completed in a year.
The study is supposed to examine the possibilities of developing a circular road, radial road, multi-modal transport hub, and modernisation of traffic management systems and bus terminal spots.
Study on bus route rationalisation to form company system bus services will also be conducted under the project.
The government has taken the initiative to introduce a mass rapid transit line for Chattogram city in line with the announcement of the Prime Minister.
smunima@yahoo.com