The first tender for pre-qualification of the much-expected Line 6 (metro rail) of the Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development (DMRTD) is not likely to be floated this month as the financier is taking time endorsing a procurement proposal, officials say.
The government struck a loan deal with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) to finance the project in the capital.
But the Jica is yet to give approval to the purchase of locomotives and coaches.
DMRTD Chief Engineer Sukumar Chandra Kunda said: “We submitted an estimated cost of locomotives and coaches to Jica in the beginning of this month [January] for its approval. But they are taking time due to the non-stop blockade.”
He hoped to get Jica’s nod within a few days. “Then we will float the pre-qualification tender,” Sukumar added.
After receiving the proposal, Jica initially told the DMRTD authorities that the estimated cost seemed excessive to them compared to that of the international market price, which is why they are verifying the proposal.
As per the proposal, total estimated cost for procuring 24 new locomotives and 144 coaches is Tk2,700 crore.
Sukumar said the estimated cost not only involved coaches and locomotives but also maintenance service, training for officials concerned and foreign tour. “But we did not mention how much is needed for these purposes.”
After getting the approval, the cost of individual segment would be provided, he said.
As per the rules, after the proposal is approved by the Jica, it will ask the DMRTD authorities to float the tender.
Transport and Highways Division Secretary MAN Siddique, also the DMRTD project chairman, said: “The indefinite blockade is hampering the quick implementation of the project as several meetings had to be rescheduled.
“But we are trying hard to float the tender this month.”
Metro Rail Project Director Mofazzel Hossain said: “It is a mega project. We are not compromising with transparency. We are also struggling to maintain schedules. For that reason, political stability is needed.”
The Metro Rail is the country’s second largest development project after the Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project.
Under the first tender, 24 locomotives and 144 coaches would be procured from manufacturers and suppliers. The 24 trains, each having six coaches, will run from Uttara to Bangladesh Bank, Mofazzel added.
He hoped that the first part of the construction may end by December 2019 while the whole project to be completed by 2024.
The 20.1km-long Metro Rail will run from Uttara Third Phase to Bangladesh Bank via Pallabi, the west side of Rokeya Sarani and Farmgate, Hotel Sonargaon, Ruposhi Bangla, TSC of Dhaka University, Doel Chattar and Topkhana Road.
The route was supposed to be extended up to Sayedabad from Bangladesh Bank through Atish Dipankar Road.
Officials say they now need more money to accommodate the sand confection piling for the depot. However, they could not say how much the cost may rise.
Instead of general piling, it needs sand confection piling which is specialised piling system for bed soil condition at Uttara area.
Project officials say they have recently procured 21.85 hectares (54 acres) of land from Rajuk’s Uttara Third Phase Project to build the depot.
The second tender will be floated to develop different kinds of infrastructure on the depot site, including administrative buildings, rest houses, staff quarters, water-treatment plant and training institutes.
The last tender will be called to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply and other mechanical supply for the project.
The government took the project under a 20-year-long Strategic Transport Plan (STP), after Japanese consultants in 2011 found that the Uttara-Motijheel corridor was feasible for the first metro rail.
The Jica has committed to provide Tk16,594.59 crore while the government Tk5,390.48 crore.
A Japanese consortium is currently working on the detailed design of the project. It is also carrying out a topographical survey, traffic survey and geotechnical survey in different parts of the project.
