Deal for last package of Metro Rail signed

A contract for the last package of MRT Line-06, known as Metro Rail, was signed for Tk 4,930 crore today.

The deal for the package -- Electrical and Mechanical Systems -- was signed between Managing Director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Ltd MAN Siddique and Marubeni of Japan and Larsen &Toubro (L&T) Limited of India.

A contract for the last package of MRT Line-06, known as Metro Rail, was signed for Tk 4,930 crore on June 3, 2018 Photo: Rezaul Karim Byron

The deal-signing programme was arranged at Bangabandhu International Convention Center this morning.

Road, Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader was also present during 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.