The government has taken an initiative to construct metro rail in the Chittagong metropolitan area to improve the traffic system in the port city.
Negotiations are on to start the feasibility study for the project, concerned officials told the FE.
Recently, the Road Transport and Highways Division had talks with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) for the survey.
The Korean government has agreed to fund the project titled "Transport master plan and preliminary feasibility study for urban metro rail transit construction of Chattogram Metropolitan area".
The port city having a population of around 7.5 million is facing severe traffic congestion in most parts of its 156 square km area.
The project will start after signing the terms of reference (ToR) by both parties, officials said.
Dhaka Urban Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) of the Road and Transport Division is coordinating with the KOICA for finalising the project worth US$6.0 million.
According to the draft ToR, the transport master plan and the preliminary feasibility study will be completed in two years and the implementation period is proposed to be from 2022 to 2024.
The objective of the project is to contribute sustainable economic development through providing high quality public transport services and pedestrian facilities, officials said.
According to the proposal, KOICA will conduct the pre-feasibility study and preliminary concept design for the metro rail construction through reviewing the status of traffic on the targeted metro lines.
It will also conduct technical surveys on the site area, estimate cost, carryout economic and financial analysis, funding plan and environmental and social impact assessment.
Under the master plan, the KOICA will survey current traffic situation and the prospect of future traffic situation, conduct travel demand modeling and update the transport system database.
The draft ToR also includes travelling of Bangladeshi officials to Korea as it says KOICA will invite groups of high-level, manager-level and technical-level Bangladeshi officials having direct working involvement with the project.
"KOICA will provide round trip air tickets, between Korea and Bangladesh, transportation in Korea, per diem, accommodation and meals for the participants," according to the draft.
