For faster, modern commuter servicesCtg to get country’s first monorail under Tk 30,000cr project

In a major step to transform Chattogram into a modern, developed city with a multimodal transport system and to ease chronic traffic congestion, the Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) has initiated a project to develop a monorail service, the first of its kind in Bangladesh, encircling the city.

The pre-feasibility study for the project is currently underway, while the CCC awaits formal approval from the relevant ministries, sources said.

The project aims to strengthen mass transit, boost the economy through expanded trade and commerce, ensure affordable and convenient transport for lower-income groups, reduce air pollution, and position Chattogram as an international tourist destination.

Planned under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) framework with a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model, the initial project cost is estimated at Tk30,000 crore, with Tk150 crore allocated for the feasibility study, funded by a foreign joint venture company.

Following expressions of interest from the German-Egyptian consortium Arab Contractors – Orascom Peninsula Consortium, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed with the CCC on 1 June to conduct the feasibility study.

The monorail network is expected to cover 71.40 kilometres with 70 potential stations across the city and its surrounding areas. Trains are anticipated to run at five-minute intervals.

The planned monorail routes cover key areas of the city. One route will run from Kalurghat to the Airport, spanning 26km with 20 stations. Another will connect City Gate to Notun Bridge over 13.5km with 12 stations.

A longer route will link Chattogram University in Hathazari upazila to Firingee Bazar, covering 20.5km with 21 stations. Finally, a 10.9km route will run from Alankar to Nimtala via the Agrabad Access Road, including 17 stations.

The feasibility study is projected to take 10 months after final ministry approval, with physical construction expected to take four to five years. After the MoU, the CCC requested approval from the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) on 25 June.

Subsequently, BIDA contacted the ministries of Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD), Road Transport and Bridges, and Power on 10 September. The LGRD ministry responded to the CCC on 21 October regarding subsequent steps.

Project Coordinator and CCC Superintendent Engineer Abu Sadat Md Tayab told the Daily Sun, “Primary consent has already been received from the LGRD Ministry and BIDA.

After approval from the Ministry of Power and Road Transport, the LGRD ministry will issue the final approval following necessary procedures.”

He added, “Once all approvals are in place, the feasibility study will formally begin.”

Pre-feasibility activities are already underway. About 50 acres of land will be needed for depot and maintenance facilities, and 30-35 megawatts of power will be required to operate the system. The implementing company will pay approximately Tk5 per passenger to the CCC before transferring the project after 20-25 years of operation.

According to the MoU, all infrastructure will be elevated and integrated with other urban mobility systems, including BRT, rail, and water transport, through smart ticketing, modern stations, and mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) integration.

The joint venture will lead technical master planning, investment mobilisation, engineering, procurement, construction, and operational strategies, while the CCC will facilitate urban permissions, inter-agency coordination, and land access.

Once completed, the monorail is expected to reduce commuting time by over 40% and cut carbon emissions by a similar margin in Chattogram, home to nearly seven million people.