Another 16-kilometre metro rail corridor from Gabtoli to Borpa of Narayanganj has been proposed at an estimated cost of $3.06 billion.
The Mass Rapid Transit Line-05 South (MRT5-S) will get linked with two other ongoing metro rail projects-MRT6 and MRT1.
The proposed 12.5km underground and 3.5km elevated lines will be carried out in two phases.
The first-phase work from Gabtoli to Aftabnagar West is planned for completion by 2030 and the last by 2035.
An estimated 924,409 passengers will use the route daily.
The MRT5-S consultants proposed the route in their final pre-feasibility study shared at a workshop in the capital on Wednesday.
The first-phase stations will be built at Technical, Kalyanpur, Shyamoli, College Gate, Asad Gate, West Panthapath, Karwanbazar, Hatirjheel, Tejgaon, Niketan and Aftabnagar West.
The Dhaka Transport Coordination Board (DTCA) has conducted the pre-feasibility study supported by the Asian Development Bank.
The MRT5 North study was done in 2017 with the support of the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
Both the studies were done by the Japan-based Nippon Koei Company Limited.
Presenting the report, team leader Akio Okutsu highlighted the need for integrating the MRT5-S with the MRT5-N.
The MRT5-N, both underground and elevated, was planned from Hemayetpur to Vatara through Gabtoli, Aminbazar and Notunbazar.
Later, it has been planned to extend both sides of the line to Ashulia and Bhulta.
The proposed route is different from the MRT5 recommended in the Strategic Transport Plan, a 20-year transport policy revised in 2015, shared Mr Okutsu.
The MRT is not financially profitable, he said, but its economic benefit is high in terms of saving travel time and fuel, drop in accidents and improved air quality.
But the team leader laid emphasis on keeping fare at an affordable rate at least for middle-income people.
He spoke of the necessity for coordination between north and south MRT5 at Gabtoli station.
Coordination is also needed at Karwanbazar and Hatirjheel where MRT6 and 01 are likely to cross.
Karwanbazar station under the MRT6 is elevated, but the MRT5-S is underground. Both stations of MRT1 and 05-S at Hatirjheel are planned underground.
The DTCA organised the workshop with its executive director, Khandakar Rakibur Rahman, in the chair.
Road transport and bridges additional secretary Chandan Kumar Dey, ADB country director Manmohon Parkash and DTCA traffic engineer Anisur Rahman spoke at the event.
Nurul Islam of Nippon Koei spoke on the safeguard framework to be taken during the feasibility study.
