The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has decided to move the Gabtoli Bus Terminal to Hemayetpur to make bus travel in Dhaka smoother and more organized. They’ve sent a plan to the Planning Commission for approval. Additionally, four new bus terminals will be built around Dhaka, and Mohakhali and Syedabad terminals will be relocated.
According to the Planning Commission, the new bus terminal in Hemayetpur will cover about 45 acres next to the Metro Rail Line-5 station and depot. It will be Dhaka’s first multi-story bus terminal, with two six-story buildings that can hold around 3,000 to 3,500 buses. There will also be space for private cars, with each floor able to accommodate 46 cars.
What is the cost of Hemayetpur Bus Terminal Project?
The estimated cost for this project is Tk 4,510 crore, though a feasibility study by the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority suggests it could be as low as Tk 1,838 crore. Construction is set to begin this year and finish in four years.
After a review meeting by the Planning Commission, the project will move to the Economic Relations Department for potential foreign loans. However, progress on the project has been slow.
Hemayetpus Bus Terminal Details
DNCC Executive Engineer Naeem Raihan Khan stated that the terminal will have 04 floors for buses, each able to hold 432 buses, with space for an additional 1,000 buses in the depot.
The purpose of this terminal is to improve passenger services and create a safer, more environmentally friendly system. It will feature separate entry and exit points for inter-district and inter-city buses, multi-modal connectivity, and automatic revenue collection from vehicles.
Previously, a committee formed by DNCC and DSCC mayors selected four potential locations for new terminals: Hemayetpur, Bhatulia, Kanchpur, and Baghair. This plan also includes relocating Gabtali, Syedabad, and Mohakhali terminals out of the city.
Officials hope that moving Gabtoli terminal will reduce traffic congestion on the airport road, and Hemayetpur’s location near the MRT Line-5 station will improve public transport.
Emdad Ullah Mian, from the Planning Commission, stated that approval for such a big project is uncertain at the moment.
What do you think about the bus terminal shifting from Gabtoli to Hemayetpur?
A feasibility study by DTCA suggests that stopping inter-district and suburban buses within Dhaka city could alleviate traffic. The government plans to build five inter-district terminals and three bus depots at Dhaka’s entrances. Hemayetpur is proposed as the largest inter-district terminal, serving buses from various districts.
Do you think this initiative can relief the people of Dhaka city? Let us know in the comment section.