The Public Perception about Dhaka Metro Rail: A Mixed-Methods Study of Bangladesh’s First MRT Project

Abstract

As Dhaka faces severe traffic congestion, the Dhaka Metro Rail project promises transformative benefits for daily commuting. Understanding public perception is vital to build trust, address concerns, and ensure effective management. To gauge public perception about Bangladesh’s first metro rail, we conducted a mixed-method study involving focus group discussion and survey with regular commuters. Our findings show a largely positive perception of the Metro Rail, with many highlighting its potential to reduce commute time, ease traffic congestion, provide a safe and comfortable travel option, and mitigate environmental pollution. Participants praised the well-planned design, strategic station locations, and infrastructure. However, concerns were raised about ticket affordability, the complexity of the ticketing system, potential mismanagement, and the system’s ability to meet the city’s growing population needs by 2030. Environmental impacts during construction, particularly pollution, were also discussed, with calls for stricter regulations. These insights underline the importance of addressing affordability, simplifying ticketing, planning for future capacity, and minimizing environmental impacts to ensure the project's long-term success. However, the current study has a few limitations, such as reliance on convenience sampling technique and unable to avoid social desirability response bias. By considering public feedback, policymakers can bring changes to enhance urban mobility to gain public trust and promote sustainable development.

IUBAT Review—A Multidisciplinary Academic Journal, 8(1): 191-205