Sustainable urban development in Dhaka through the lens of smart city initiatives: a policy implementation analysis of MRT Line 6 and the a2i e-governance program

Abstract

This study evaluates the contributions of Dhaka’s Mass Rapid Transit Line 6 (MRT-6) and Aspire to Innovate (a2i) to sustainable smart city development. Using secondary data from 2019–2024, it assesses policy alignment with SDG 11 and the New Urban Agenda, measures performance using selected SDG 11 and ISO 37122:2019 indicators, and identifies implementation gaps. The findings show that MRT-6 has reduced travel time and increased ridership, while a2i has expanded its digital services. However, affordability, accessibility, institutional coordination, and monitoring remain significant challenges. The average score of approximately 3 out of 5 indicates moderate progress, highlighting the need for inclusive governance, effective monitoring, and equitable access to achieve sustainable urban development.