A financing package totalling €4.2 billion (US$4.5 billion) has been approved for the construction of the 17.2 km southern section of MRT metro line 5 in Dhaka. As a result, a detailed proposal has now also been submitted to the Bangladesh Ministry of Planning. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is contributing €2.8 billion, while €1.4 billion will come from South Korea. The Bangladeshi government will contribute the remainder of the total cost of €4.7 billion. The ADB financing consists of a mixture of soft and normal loans, which will be repaid over a period of 30 years with a five-year grace period. After review by the Ministry of Planning, the project proposal will be submitted to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council for approval. The southern section of MRT Line 5, which runs from Gabtoli in western Dhaka to Dasherkandi in the east, is scheduled to be opened in 2030. The line includes a 13 km tunnel section with 11 stations between Gabtoli and Aftabnagar as well as a 4.1 km elevated section with four stations from Aftabnagar to Dasherkandi. The journey time between Gabtoli and Dasherkandi will be 28 minutes. Work on the 20 km northern section of MRT Line 5 from Hemayetpur to Bhatara began on 4th November 2023 and is scheduled for completion in 2028 at a cost of around €3.1 billion.
