Public-Private Development Strategy for Dhaka’s Mohakhali Bus Terminal
World Bank
HR&A worked with the World Bank to develop public-private partnership models for transforming the Mohakhali Bus Terminal in central Dhaka into a state-of-the-art mixed-use transportation hub. Through comprehensive market analysis and stakeholder engagement, we created feasible development scenarios and PPP structures that enable private sector investment to fund terminal operations while maximizing the eight-acre site’s value, leading to consensus-building efforts between DNCC and municipal leaders for implementation.
The Mohakhali Bus Terminal’s strategic location in central Dhaka presents noteworthy potential as a transportation interchange serving North Dhaka’s inter-city buses and future bus rapid transit services, but required innovative funding approaches to realize its transformative potential amid the city’s rapid economic growth. The World Bank’s “Improving Private Sector Participation in Dhaka Public Transport” project sought to create a replicable model for urban infrastructure development through strategic public-private collaboration. HR&A’s approach combined comprehensive site assessment with detailed real estate market analysis to identify feasible land uses, engaging local developers and stakeholders to understand key risks and opportunities for successful mixed-use development.
Our analysis generated multiple mid- and long-term development scenarios that project future revenues from land sales or leases capable of funding terminal operating costs while accommodating current and future transportation needs. We proposed various public-private partnership structures for both terminal operations and mixed-use development, clearly defining roles and responsibilities for Dhaka North City Corporation and private entities along with projected financial outcomes for each model. The comprehensive framework we developed enabled DNCC and the World Bank to initiate dialogue with municipal and national leaders, building consensus around Mohakhali’s transformative potential and establishing the PPP model as a catalyst for rapid infrastructure development throughout Bangladesh. This work demonstrates how strategic analysis can unlock private sector investment for critical urban infrastructure while creating sustainable funding mechanisms for ongoing operations.
