Tk 60 billion deals signed for construction of metro rail infrastructure

The government has signed deals worth about Tk 60 billion for the construction of metro rail stations and additional infrastructure.

Dhaka Mass Transit Company signed an agreement with a joint venture between Italian-Thai Development Public Company and Sinohydro Corp on Wednesday. A separate deal was signed with Italian-Thai Development.

Project Director Md Mofazzal Hossain signed the deals on behalf of the government while Tawat Chai Su Thrip Rapa represented the two companies.

Road Transport Minister Obaidul Quader said the project was divided into eight phases.

“Today we have signed deals for the second, third and fourth phases," he said adding that almost 35 percent of land development has been finished.

Asked whether it would be possible to kick off metro rail operations by 2019, Quader said that they were falling six months behind due to the Gulshan terror attack.

"It hit snags as seven consultants of the project were killed in the attack. But it's now back in full swing."

The government approved the metro rail project in 2012.

In April last year, the cabinet gave its initial clearance for a law related to land acquisition for the project.

Of the total cost of Tk 220 billion, Japan International Cooperation Agency will provide Tk 165.95 billion. Bangladesh will take care of the remaining Tk 53.9 billion.

The 16 metro rail stations will be Uttara (north), Uttara (centre), Uttara (south), Pallabi, IMT, Mirpur 10, Kaziparha, Taltala, Agargaon, Bijoy Sarani, Farmgate, Sonargaon, National Museum, Doel Chattar, Bangabandhu National Stadium and Bangladesh Bank.

Each of the 56 trains in the proposed mass transit system will carry 1,800 passengers and will run every four minutes, or 60,000 people every hour.

The tracks will run above the middle of roads, starting from Uttara and ending at Motijheel. Each train will take less than 40 minutes to run the whole distance.