The government is likely to float tender on November 25 for procuring rolling stock (coach and locomotives) and depot equipment to speed up the implementation of the Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development project, better known as metro rail.
A pre-qualification tender for civil works (elevated stations and viaducts) would be floated the same day, said a senior official of Dhaka Mass Transit Company (DMTC).
“We have completed all preparations and also got clearance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica), the project partner for tender. So we hope that we will take decision to float a tender and a pre-qualification for procuring rolling stock and equipment.
“The DMTC board meeting will finalise the tender documents. It is likely to be published on November 26,” the official said seeking anonymity as he is not authorised to speak to media. The project comprises eight contract packages involving Tk5,400 crore.
The pre-qualification tender for the rolling stock and equipment of the Uttara depot was floated in January. Four international companies submitted their documents. Jica has already evaluated the documents and would announce the names of qualified companies.
Meanwhile, sources said another tender – for procuring engineering and management (E&M) system – that was set to be floated in November would be delayed by a couple of weeks.
Eight companies submitted documents in the pre-qualification tender floated in March.
The first phase of the metro rail project is likely to be finished by December 2019 while it would take five more years to complete the entire project. Its implementation was delayed in the last few years over modification of routes following objections from the Air Force and avoiding overlapping with the Gulistan-Jatrabari flyover.
The trains will run from Uttara to Motijheel via Pallabi. According to a study conducted by Jica, the trains will operate every three minutes and carry 60,000 passengers per hour.
