2 contracts signed for Dhaka Metro Rail Project

Dhaka Mass Transit Company Ltd today signed contracts with two joint-venture companies for package-5 and package-6 of MRT Line-6 known as Metro Rail.

The managing director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Ltd MAN Siddique and representatives of the two joint venture companies signed two separate contracts for the two packages at the contract signing ceremony at a city hotel in presence of Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader.

Read more: Fact box: All you need to know about Bangladesh metro rail project

The package-5 and package-6 are for construction of viaducts and elevated stations from Agargaon to Karwan Bazar and Karwan Bazar to Motijheel respectively.

Dhaka Mass Transit Company signed contract for Package-5 with Takken Corporation, Abdul Monem Ltd and Abenikko JV for Tk 1,855 crore. And for Tk 2,332 crore, it inked a deal with Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Co Ltd JV Package-6.

Among the companies, Abdul Monem Ltd is a Bangladeshi firm while the rests are Japanese companies.

Roads, Transport and Bridges Division Secretary Nazrul Islam and the other ministry officials and officials from the joint venture companies were present at the signing ceremony.

The Tk 22,000 crore ($2.5 billion) ambitious project is aimed at easing traffic congestion in the capital city through an improved, faster, comfortable and time-bound public transportation service.

Once the project is implemented, a train with six air-conditioned spacious coaches will operate every four minute, enabling a commuter to travel from Uttara to Motijheel in just 38 minutes which now takes around two hours on a normal day.

A total of 24 such trains would carry 60,000 passengers every hour to both directions and drastically cut the number of private cars on the streets.

The metro rail will have stations at 16 points of the city -- including at Uttara, Pallabi, Mirpur, Kazipara, Shewrapara, Agargaon, Rokeya Sarani, Bijoy Sarani, Farmgate, Sonargaon Hotel, Shahbagh, Doel Chattar, Topkhana Road and Motijheel.

It will have noise barriers and vibration-free tracks and thus be environment-friendly.