WB offers $250m to build BRT Line 3

The World Bank (WB) has offered $250 million loan to Bangladesh for the construction of Airport-Mohakhali phase of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Line 3 in the capital. Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader made the disclosure while talking to reporters after a meeting with a five-member WB delegation, headed by its Operation Manager for Bangladesh Rajeshree S. Paralkar. The minister said the feasibility study and the detailed design for the phase 1 Airport-Mohakhali of BRT Line 3 has been completed by the WB. Despite withdrawing from the Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project (PMBT), the WB has a positive intent to work on various development projects in the country which has been made clear during the WB chief's recent visit to Bangladesh, he added. Quader informed that the WB will let its loan disbursement scheme for the BRT Line 3 Phase 1 by January next. “’Fact Finding Mission’ a team of WB, will come to Bangladesh in January next. Following the visit of the team, the WB will respond,” added the minister. The WB will also send a technical team to be sure whether the construction of the BRT Line 3 Phase 1 will create any traffic congestion in the area. He said that government is constructing the Bus Rapid Transit 2 (BRT) route from Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka to Gazipur. On June 26, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the construction work of the BRT route. The BRT system was designed to reduce traffic jam in Dhaka and adjacent areas through a dedicated bus route. “We have also given a proposal to the WB for constructing a 4-lane road on Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf route. It will respond to this proposal by January next,” added the minister.