Abstract

The study examines the impact of metro rail construction on traffic volume, speed, environmental impact assessment, road blockage, and effects on pedestrians and locals. The MRT line-6 project in Bangladesh has initiated the metro rail era, but it has led to adverse impacts on road users, including health issues, lost working hours, economic losses, and environmental pollution. The construction of MRT line-6 has blocked footpaths and entrances of local shops and institutions, causing daily movement problems, economic losses, and adverse health impacts. The pace of construction activity during the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in delayed completion and prolonged suffering for road users. For traffic volume study the direct manual counting method is used for data collection at the selected location and the stopwatch method is used to collect spot speed data at selected locations. The results show a 23.68% decrease in traffic flow during the morning and a 21.39% decrease during evening peak hours compared to before the construction. The average spot speed in under-construction areas is significantly lower than in construction-free areas. Monthly EIA reports reveal higher levels of Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM), PM10, and PM2.5 than Bangladesh Standards, and gaseous substances like CO, NOx, and SO2 are below standards in both monitoring locations. The study aims to analyze traffic volume and speed during metro rail construction in Dhaka city, determining traffic flow rate and spot speed. It also examines the environmental and health impacts of construction using monthly EIA reports. The study also aims to visualize the effects on pedestrian movement and local people’s suffering. It analyzes road blockages due to construction, road users’ effects, and the impact of COVID-19 on the metro rail project. The findings will help visualize the adverse effects on traffic flow rate, vehicle speed, and local people’s suffering.