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SANGSAD BHABAN, April 9, 2026 (BSS) - Road Transport and Bridges Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam today said that the government has taken multiple measures to reduce traffic congestion in Dhaka metropolitan and its adjoining areas.

He also expressed hope that traffic congestion would significantly decrease once the initiatives are fully implemented.

Rabiul said this in parliament while replying to a written question placed by ruling party lawmaker SM Jahangir Hossain from Dhaka-18 constituency.

The minister said a time-bound work plan has been adopted to construct six Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) or metro rail lines by 2030 to ease traffic congestion in Dhaka and surrounding areas. 

Under this plan, a section of MRT Line-1 from Airport to Kuril is currently under construction, which is expected to significantly reduce traffic congestion on the concerned roads after completion.

Shaikh Rabiul Alam said the road from Banani overpass to Airport falls under Dhaka Road Division. Roads around Balaka Bhaban, the third terminal and Kaola areas adjacent to Airport Road have been widened to increase traffic capacity and road dividers have been installed to ensure traffic discipline, which is already helping reduce congestion.

He also said the Greater Dhaka Sustainable Urban Transport Project has been taken to introduce a dedicated lane-based Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system from Airport to Gazipur along a 20.5-kilometre corridor to ease traffic congestion. Under the project, the existing road from Airport to Chourasta is being upgraded into an eight-lane highway.

Besides, eight flyovers - Airport-1, Airport-2, Jasimuddin, U-Turn-1 Gazipura, U-Turn-2 Open University, Bhogra, Chourasta Flyover-1 and Chourasta Flyover-2 - and a 4.5-kilometre elevated road including a 10-lane Tongi Bridge from Azampur to Cherag Ali have been constructed under the project. 

Once completed, buses will be able to travel from one end to the other within 35 to 40 minutes without interruption.

The minister further said that Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) will procure 340 single-deck CNG air-conditioned buses under a project to help reduce traffic congestion. 

Tender for the project was invited on December 1 last year. After implementation, bus services will be introduced on Uttara, Airport and Khilkhet routes, which will play an important role in improving the transport system and reducing traffic congestion.