Dhaka Traffic Gridlock Worsens as New Metro Line Construction Begins

Dhaka, Bangladesh – Commuters in the Bangladeshi capital faced another day of severe gridlock on Monday as the city’s notoriously congested roads reached a near standstill, exacerbated by the start of construction on a new section of the metro rail system. The latest traffic snarls, which began early in the morning and persisted through the evening rush hour, have sparked fresh concerns about the city’s infrastructure capacity and the economic toll of chronic delays.

According to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Traffic Department, key arteries such as Mirpur Road, Pragati Sarani, and the Airport Road saw vehicle speeds drop to less than 5 kilometers per hour during peak hours. The delays were particularly acute near the Motijheel commercial district, where the new metro line’s underground tunneling work has forced lane closures and rerouting of buses and private cars. Authorities reported that over 200 traffic police personnel were deployed to manage the chaos, but their efforts were hampered by a surge in vehicle numbers, with an estimated 1.5 million cars, rickshaws, and buses vying for space on roads designed for a fraction of that volume.

The construction, part of the Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project’s MRT Line 6 extension, is intended to connect the northern suburb of Uttara to the southern Kamalapur area by 2027. However, the interim disruption has angered residents and business owners alike. “I spent three hours just to travel 10 kilometers from Gulshan to Farmgate,” said Rasheda Begum, a bank employee. “This is unsustainable. My productivity is dropping, and I am considering leaving the city.” Local shopkeepers in the Bashundhara area reported a 20% decline in customer footfall as potential buyers avoided the area due to traffic jams.

Bangladesh’s urban planning experts have long warned that Dhaka’s population density, currently over 23,000 people per square kilometer, combined with a lack of integrated public transport, makes it one of the world’s most traffic-congested cities. A 2023 World Bank study estimated that Dhaka’s traffic congestion costs the economy about $3.8 billion annually in lost productivity and fuel wastage. The new metro line, funded partly by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, is seen as a critical long-term solution, but its construction phase is testing the patience of a city already strained by frequent flooding and utility outages.

In response to the worsening situation, the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority announced on Monday that it would introduce temporary bus-only lanes on select routes and increase the frequency of existing metro services on MRT Line 1, which has been operational since 2022. “We understand the frustration, but short-term pain is necessary for long-term gain,” said authority spokesperson Md. Abul Kalam Azad. “We urge commuters to use alternative routes and consider carpooling or using the metro where possible.”

Internationally, the Dhaka traffic crisis has drawn attention as a case study in rapid urbanization in developing nations. Urban planners from cities like Jakarta and Manila, which face similar challenges, have been in contact with Dhaka officials to share strategies. Meanwhile, environmental groups note that idling vehicles in Dhaka contribute significantly to air pollution, with particulate matter levels often exceeding World Health Organization safety limits by five times.

As night fell on Monday, traffic on major roads remained heavy, with many commuters reporting that they had missed family dinners and appointments. The situation is expected to persist for at least another two weeks as construction crews work to stabilize the new metro line’s foundation. For now, Dhaka’s residents are left to navigate the gridlock, hoping that the promised relief arrives before the city’s patience runs out.