Dhaka, Bangaldesh: The government is expected to sign four separate deals on metro rail tracks, stations, coaches and depot of the long-cherished Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Line-6 in April this year.
“We are evaluating the tender documents submitted by different foreign firms for the contracts to build structure of the depot, set up metro rail tracks, construct stations and manufacture and supply coaches under four separate packages,” Managing Director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) Mofazzel Hossain told BSS here today.
He said the DMTCL would sign four separate contract packages (CPs) including CP-2, CP-3, CP-4 and CP-8 after evaluation of the tender documents in April.
A total of 25 percent land development work of depot area of the MRT Line-6 was completed under the package-1, Hossain said, adding, “Tokyu Construction Co. Ltd was awarded after concurrence from JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) on March 27, 2016. The duration of the contract is for 25 months.”
“The MRT Line-6 is an elevated Metro Rail system to be implemented in Dhaka, under a fast track priority initiative of the government. Once implemented, the MRT Line-6 will run from Uttara to Motijheel serving 16 stations along the way,” Mofazzel Hossain, also the project director, said. Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina launched the construction work of the country’s first-ever metro rail project, also known as the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Line-6, on June 24, 2016. According to the project details, the package CP-03 is for the construction of metro rail tracks (viaduct) and elevated stations from Uttara North to Pallabi, while the package CP-04 is for the construction of metro rail tracks and elevated stations from Pallabi to Agargaon.
The package CP-8 would be awarded for supplying of rolling stock and depot equipment of MRT Line-6. The contract would be on design-build basis.
The MRT-6 is being executed at a cost of about Taka 22,000 crore. Of the amount, the JICA is providing Taka 16,500 crore to the project, while the rest of the fund would come from the Government of Bangladesh (GoB), official sources said.
The fast moving metro rail will run to and from Uttara and Motijheel via Mirpur and Farmgate, carrying 60,000 passengers in an hour and touching every station in every four minutes.
The 20.1-kilometer MRT Line-6 will run from Uttara Third Phase and pass through Pallabi, the west side of Rokeya Sarani and Farmgate, Hotel Sonargaon, Ruposhi Bangla, TSC of Dhaka University, Doel Chattar, Topkhana Road and Bangladesh Bank.
There will be 16 stations – Uttara North, Central and South, Pallabi, Mirpur-11, Mirpur-10, Kazipara, Taltala, Agargaon, Bijoy Sarani, Farmgate, Sonargaon, National Museum, Doyel Chattar, Bangabandhu National Stadium and Bangladesh Bank.
Once MRT Line-6 Project is in operation, the commuters would enjoy easy-going traffic and there would no more be any perennial congestion of transportations in this gradually expanding city.
