The government has planned to convert the Dhaka-Gazipur Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor into a six-lane conventional highway by removing BRT stations, lane dividers and associated infrastructure to ensure smoother and faster traffic movement.
Under the plan, three lanes will be allocated for general traffic in each direction. Two existing two-lane flyovers will also be upgraded to four lanes, an official familiar with the process said.
The issue was discussed at a cabinet meeting on October 18, chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, according to a letter issued by the Road Transport and Highways Division on October 19.
The meeting decided to dissolve Dhaka Bus Rapid Transit PLC and transfer it under the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) for oversight.
The authorities concerned have been instructed to submit an initial progress report on implementing the decisions within 15 days, followed by updated reports by the third day of each month until implementation is complete, the letter said.
RHD Chief Engineer Md Moniruzzaman said the department had been informed of the government's decision and was taking the necessary steps.
He said an initial progress report would be submitted within 15 days, with further measures taken in line with government directives.
Approved in November 2012, the 20.5-kilometre BRT project was initially scheduled for completion by December 2016 at an estimated cost of Tk2,037.9 crore.
However, implementation delays and repeated revisions pushed the estimated cost to Tk4,268.32 crore, according to Moniruzzaman.
The project was financed by the Bangladesh government, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the French development agency Agence Française de Développement (AFD).
By December 2024, around 97% of the infrastructure work had been completed, while overall physical progress stood at 77.48%. The project tenure expired that month and was not extended.
Although the dedicated BRT lanes were subsequently opened to general traffic, the planned bus service could not be launched after two attempts to procure buses failed.
In July 2025, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) rejected a proposal to increase the project cost to Tk6,598 crore and extend its tenure until December 2029. It also ordered an investigation into the project's design and feasibility study.
The government later considered four options for the corridor: completing the BRT project, introducing bus services under a route-franchising system, converting it into a toll-based expressway, or turning it into a conventional highway. It ultimately opted for the last option.
A review team from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) had recommended abandoning the planned BRT service, citing design flaws and limited capacity. The team suggested using the existing infrastructure for general traffic rather than making further investments.
In October 2025, the interim government also decided against launching BRT services on the route, citing the additional time and funding required.
The latest decision has, however, raised concerns among urban planners and civic organisations.
The Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) described the move as a setback for sustainable and inclusive public transport and called for reconsideration.
The organisation said the decision was inconsistent with recommendations in the Gazipur Transport Master Plan and Dhaka's Revised Strategic Transport Plan (RSTP).
It warned that the move could prioritise private cars while failing to adequately address public transport needs in Gazipur and Uttara, whose residents have endured years of disruption due to construction work.
After years of delays and cost escalation, the corridor's conversion into a conventional highway will require careful planning to ease congestion, improve road safety and ensure that the existing infrastructure serves the wider public without undermining access to public transport.