The Planning Commission yesterday approved the project for constructing the southern route of the Mass Rapid Transit Line-5 (southern route), which will connect Gabtoli to Dasherkandi.

The approval was granted at a meeting of the commission's Project Evaluation Committee.

The planning ministry is now set to present the project proposal to the Ecnec (Executive Committee of the National Economic Council) for final approval.

According to a ministry official, the line will be constructed at a cost of Tk 47,721 crore, with 2031 set as the deadline.

The project was initially proposed in 2023 under the Awami League government at an estimated cost of Tk 54,618 crore. However, after revision, the cost came down to Tk 47,721 crore. Of this amount, Tk 32,332 crore will be financed by the Asian Development Bank and the South Korean government.

According to project documents, after the interim government took office, the planning commission returned the project proposal to Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited under the Roads and Highways Division (RHD) to determine whether the project should proceed.

The RHD confirmed it would be implemented and then resubmitted the proposal to the planning ministry for the next steps.

Once constructed, the southern route will start from Gabtoli and end at Dasherkandi, passing through Kalyanpur, Shyamoli, Asad Gate, Russell Square, Karwan Bazar, Hatirjheel, Tejgaon, and Aftabnagar.

It will feature 11 underground and four elevated stations. The underground stations will be between Gabtoli and Aftabnagar, while the elevated ones will be from Aftabnagar to Dasherkandi.

Initially, 19 trains with six air-conditioned coaches will operate on the route.

According to the documents, the middle coaches of each train will accommodate a maximum of 323 passengers, while the trailer coaches will carry 308 passengers.

With a travel time of 28 minutes between Gabtoli and Dasherkandi, one train will depart every four and half minutes.

The route is expected to help reduce traffic congestion and improve the environment in the capital and surrounding areas.

Operations of the country's first metro rail line, formerly known as MRT Line-6, began in November 2023, except for its Motijheel-Kamalapur section.

Two more lines -- MRT Line-5 (northern route) and MRT Line-1 -- are currently being constructed.