Nawshin Ahmed
Department of Architecture, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh

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Measuring Transit-Oriented Development Readiness in a Declining Central Business District: A Methodological Framework for the Global South Nawshin Ahmed; SHAHRIAR IQBAL Raj
Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs Vol. 10 No. 2 (2026): Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs
Publisher : Alanya Üniversitesi

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.25034/ijcua.2026.v10n2-3

Abstract

Motijheel, Dhaka's oldest Central Business District (CBD), suffers from spatial deterioration and institutional inertia despite the opening of Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Line 6. While Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) research has proliferated in developed contexts, systematic assessment of TOD readiness in declining Global South CBDs remains limited. Using a mixed-methods design, this study evaluates Motijheel via the "5D" framework and a weighted TOD Readiness Index, interpreted through an integrated framework linking adaptive TOD, 18-hour city theory, and inclusive urbanism. Findings reveal a pronounced "over-dense yet under-diverse" condition: density scored 5/5 (32,729 persons/km², unrestricted FAR), while Design scored only 2.6/5, driven by weak safety (1.47/5) and security (1.39/5). Land-use diversity was moderate (3.4/5; entropy = 0.68), and MRT coverage reached just 20% of destination-accessibility needs. Income disparity in ridership was stark, with only 10% of low-income commuters using MRT versus 30% of middle-income users. A five-part strategic framework is proposed, emphasising mixed-use diversification, pedestrian-first mobility, informal-economy integration, adaptive reuse, and coordinated governance. This study offers the first systematic TOD Readiness Index for Dhaka's inaugural MRT corridor, providing a replicable methodology for Global South urban renewal.