The government plans to build Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line 5, commonly known as southern metro rail, in Dhaka targeting to carry 924,000 passengers each day.
The construction cost of the 17.4km metro rail between Gabtoli to Balirpar via Russel Square-Karwan Bazar-Hatirjheel-Tejgaon-Niketan- Aftabnagar and Dasherkandi -- is Tk38,000crore, according to the pre-feasibility study report.
Brig Gen (retd) Md Abdul Wohab, project director of MRT line 5 (southern route), told Dhaka Tribune that it would take only 30 minutes to travel between Gabtoli and Balirpar.
On Monday morning, a deal was inked in Dhaka between Egis Rail, SA, France (lead partner) and state-owned Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) for consulting services for the feasibility study, detailed design and tender assistance within June 2023.
After the signing ceremony, MAN Siddique, managing director of DMTCL, told Dhaka Tribune that detailed design and tender assistance of the project will be worth Tk285.99 crore while Asian Development Bank will contribute Tk211.85 crore.
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“We want to implement the southern metro rail project within 2030 following the detailed design which will be completed by June 2023. The metro rail will have 16 stations while 12 of those will be underground and four elevated,” he added.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, who spoke as chief guest in the program, said as the government wants to turn Bangladesh into a developed country by 2041, it is continuing the development works following health guidelines amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Among the others Jean-Marin Schuh, ambassador of France in Bangladesh, Pascal Ligneres, authorized representative of Egis Rail, SA, France and country director of Egis India Consulting Engineers Pvt Ltd spoke in the signing ceremony.
According to the DMTCL officials, the Oriental Consultants Global Co Ltd, Japan, SMEC International Pty Ltd, Australia, and Egis India Consulting Engineers Pvt Ltd will work as joint venture partners, while Bangladesh’s ACE Consultants Ltd and DEV Consultants Limited will work together with the Egis Rail as sub-consultants.
Meanwhile, DMTCL is implementing MRT line 6, stretching from Uttara to Kamalapur, which is expected to become operational next year.
An estimated 60,000 passengers will travel per hour on the route from 6am to 10pm, amounting to 960,000 people using the metro rail every day.
