<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;">The long-awaited Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, which promises to bring the time to travel between Dhaka and Gazipur down to around 40 minutes, is set to finally begin operations in July next year.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>According to officials of the Dhaka Bus Rapid Transit (Dhaka BRT) Company, more than 78% of the construction work has already been completed and all basic structures are expected to be ready by the end of this year or early next year.</div><div><br></div><div>The BRT project, which will run from the Dhaka airport to Shibbari in Gazipur, started in November 2012 and was expected to be completed by December 2016 at a cost of Tk2,037.9 crore. However, the project was delayed several times due to difficulties with site acquisition and relocation of utility services, inadequate drainage, a shortage of contractor funding, and the Covid-19 pandemic.</div><div><br></div><div>The latest extended deadline passed in June and the project cost has so far risen to Tk4,268.3 crore, but the light at the end of the tunnel is now visible, according to Shafiqul Islam, managing director of Dhaka BRT Company.</div><div><br></div><div>“We will start operation of Dhaka BRT in July next year as the basic structure will be completed by this year or March 2023,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The project’s administrators previously requested an extension to December 2023, along with an additional Tk268.13 crore and a year of fault responsibility. The project would cost Tk4,536.46 crore if it were to be authorized.</div><div><br></div><div>Around 130 air-conditioned electric buses are expected to carry 4,000 passengers between Dhaka and Gazipur each day after the BRT is launched.</div><div><br></div><div>During a recent visit to the project area, it was found the construction of the six flyovers at different intersections was almost complete. Pitch casting work was ongoing.</div><div><br></div><div>Roads and Highways Department, Bangladesh Bridge Authority, and Local Government Engineering Department are implementing different parts of the project under the supervision of the Dhaka BRT Company.</div><div><br></div><div><b>How will the BRT work</b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div>Project officials said people would be able to travel from the adjacent city of Gazipur, where the cost of living is significantly lower, to Dhaka in 35 to 40 minutes thanks to the 20.5-kilometer bus route. The trip currently takes from one and a half to 3 hours, depending on traffic.</div><div><br></div><div>Some regular commuters between Dhaka and Gazipur were sceptical of the BRT, as the Dhaka airport is not somewhere many of them travel to.</div><div><br></div><div>Gulistan or Motijheel would be better access points, the commuters said.</div><div><br></div><div>Project officials said access to the BRT would not be an issue for passengers as it would be connected to Motijheel and Kamalapur through the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) project.</div><div><br></div><div>“Passengers of the BRT can get a dedicated bus for getting metro rail from the Uttara station at Diyabari,” said Dhaka BRT Company MD Shafiqul Islam.</div><div><br></div><div>Due to the use of dedicated lanes, BRT buses will be able to carry passengers between 25 stations at 2–5-minute intervals. The stations will be equipped with an e-ticketing system, automatic ticket counters, and an Intelligent Transport System (ITS) for the convenience of passengers.</div><div><br></div><div>There are no plans to extend the service to Mohakhali at the moment, the Dhaka BRT Company MD added.</div><div><br></div><div>Although the BRT promises to bring significant benefits in the future, the project has significantly increased traffic congestion at several points of the capital due to roads being narrowed by construction work.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/TR</div>