Bangladesh and South Korea Thursday signed an agreement to launch a two-year project on the transport master plan and a preliminary feasibility study for urban metro rail transit construction in Chattogram city.
South Korea, through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), in collaboration with the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA), the Road Transport and Highways Division, and the road transport and bridges ministry, signed the deal ahead of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Bangladesh-South Korea ties next year.
DTCA under the Road Transport and Highways Division will be the partner of KOICA to implement the project.
KOICA Country Director Doh Young-ah, Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary ABM Amin Ullah Nuri, and Economic Relations Division Additional Secretary Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky signed the agreement.
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ERD Secretary Sharifa Khan and South Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Lee Jang-keun were present.
Over the next 24 months, the project involving a Tk60.01 crore grant will develop a transportation master plan for Chattogram city, prepare a pre-feasibility study and preliminary concept design for MRT construction there, and enhance the institutional capacity of the DTCA for establishing an efficient transportation system.
Lee Jang-keun said, "Korea has long viewed Bangladesh as a trusted partner and is willing to assist in a variety of development areas, including transport, governance, and others."
"Officials stated that Korea developed two master plans for Bangladesh in 2003 and 2018 on the Chattogram sewerage system and e-government, respectively. Not only did Korea develop the master plans, but it is also attempting to implement them. Under this initiative, a third master plan will be developed."
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Young-Ah Doh said: "I really hope that through this comprehensive cooperation from the Republic of Korea, Bangladesh will be able to improve traffic safety and the environment by offering eco-friendly, convenient, and fast public transportation services in accordance with the master plan."
"Also, the master plan will build a road management system that will minimise travel time and the number of road accidents, resulting in the much-needed improvement of the country's road conditions. Furthermore, the project will solve current challenges and make positive contributions to the mass transit sector in Bangladesh."