The BNP government has initiated a plan to reshape Dhaka’s transport system by introducing a monorail network alongside the capital and surrounding districts. As part of the move, the long-term transport policy – the Revised Strategic Transport Plan (RSTP) for Greater Dhaka – is set to be revised once again.
Under the proposal, monorail systems will be introduced in densely populated areas such as Old Dhaka, where bus services are limited and metro rail coverage is absent. The plan also includes integrating monorail lines with existing metro stations to allow seamless transfers for commuters.
Officials say monorail construction costs are significantly lower than metro rail and can navigate narrow and curved routes more easily, although its passenger capacity is comparatively lower.
The first 20-year Strategic Transport Plan (STP) for Greater Dhaka was prepared in 2005. It was revised in 2015 for the 2015–2035 period, forming the basis for major transport infrastructure projects such as metro rail, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), elevated expressways and flyovers.
In 2025, the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) submitted another revision of the STP to the Road Transport and Highways Division. Following the BNP government’s assumption of office, monorail was proposed to be included in the draft plan, reflecting an earlier election pledge.
Despite ongoing metro rail and BRT projects, traffic congestion in the capital has not eased significantly, and commuter suffering remains high. Several key recommendations such as company-based bus services, pedestrian-friendly road systems, and regulation of informal transport have also seen limited implementation.
A seminar on further revisions to the transport plan, including possible additions and policy adjustments, is being held today by the DTCA. DTCA Additional Executive Director Mohammad Robiul Alam said, “Monorail has been proposed in the new URSTP.”
BUET Professor Shamsul Haque said the earlier transport plan had effectively become a masterplan focused mainly on metro rail, prompting recommendations to include monorail in the updated policy framework.
He added that authorities have also suggested considering monorail in areas where metro expansion is not feasible due to tight turning radii and space constraints.
In a separate development, the DTCA is also moving to bring battery-run rickshaws under a licensing framework. Officials say the aim is to improve road safety and ensure accountability.
However, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has recently indicated plans to remove battery-operated rickshaws from Dhaka roads.
Professor Haque, meanwhile, cautioned against a blanket removal of small vehicles, noting that many densely populated neighbourhoods such as Old Dhaka, Bashabo, Goran and Madertek lack bus access.
“If these areas are told that e-bikes or rickshaws will be removed, then how will people travel? Removing them is a very risky step,” he said.
