Quader hopes Dhaka Metro Rail work will finish within 2020

The road transport and bridges minister expects construction of the Metrorail from Uttara to Motijheel in Dhaka to finish with 2020.

Obaidul Quader sounded optimistic while speaking to journalists after the signing of two contracts to set up viaducts and stations from Agargaon to Motijheel under packages 5 and 6 of the project.    

He said the deaths of foreigners, including six Japanese surveyors of the Metrorail project, in the July 1, 2016, terrorist attack on Holey Artisan bakery stalled the work of the project for six months.

“But it could not hurt the spirit the Japanese contractor and JICA. That’s good news. We covered the gap within six months,” he added.

Japan International Cooperation Agency or JICA is proving funds for the around Tk 40 billion project consisting of eight packages.

Currently, the work to set up viaducts and nine stations on around a 12-kilometre route from Uttara to Agargaon under packages 3 and 4 is under way.

Quader hoped it would be possible to finish the work on Uttara-Agargaon route within 2019 and Agargaon-Motijheel route within 2020.

“Actually the project is scheduled to end by 2024. But Japan is providing quality work. A fine partnership is working here,” he said.

According to the contracts signed on Monday, Tekken Corporation of Japan, Abdul Momen Limited and Abenikko JV will build viaducts and three stations under package 5 from Agargaon to Karwan Bazar for Tk 18.55 billion.

Under package 6, a joint venture of Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Limited and ITD will set up the viaducts and four stations from Karwan Bazar to Motijheel for Tk 23.32 billion.

State-owned Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited Managing Director MAN Siddique, Takatoshi Nishimura of Tekken Corporation and Ikuy Okidata of Sumitomo signed the latest contracts on Monday.