Dhaka, Sept. 16 -- The government has approved three metro rail projects involving a combined estimated cost of about Tk 2.50 lakh crore including a new MRT Line-5 Southern Route project and revised costs for Japan-funded MRT Line-1 and MRT Line-5 Northern Route.

The projects were approved at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) held at Secretariat on Wednesday, with Prime Minister and ECNEC Chairperson Tarique Rahman in the chair.

The new 17.20-kilometre MRT Line-5 Southern Route connecting Gabtoli with Dasherkandi has been approved at an estimated cost of Tk 45,503.76 crore.

Of the amount, the government will provide Tk15,197.66 crore, while Tk 30,306.10 crore will come as project loans from t...