Contract on consultancy services for third metro rail signed virtually

Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), the implementing agency of metro rail projects, today signed a contract with a consortium of agencies -- foreign and Bangladeshi -- for general consultancy services for Mass Rapid Transit Development Project (Line-5: northern route).

DMTCL's Managing Director MAN Siddique; Ken Nishino, acting director of Nippon Koei Co Ltd; and Eiji Yonezawa, president of Oriental Consultant Global Co Ltd, signed the contract online on behalf of their companies.

Under the contract -- worth TK 1,600 crore with VAT and others -- the consortium, led by renowned Japanese firm Nippon Koei, will prepare detailed designs, tender documents to procure a contractor and supervise the construction work.

The MRT-5 (northern route), from Savar's Hemayetpur to Bhatara via Gabtoli, Mirpur and Gulshan, would be implemented at an estimated cost of Tk 41,239 crore -- of which Japan will finance around Tk 29,000 crore.

The 20km line with 14 stations will consist of underground and elevated sections. The project commits to a 2028 deadline. This would be the first east-west MRT corridor in Bangladesh.

Once completed, it would be the third metro rail in the country.

The physical works of MRT-6, country's first metro rail project -- from Uttara third phase to Motijheel -- is going on, while the construction of MRT-1 -- which would be the country's first underground metro rail, from Airport road to Kamalapur -- is expected to begin in December this year.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader and Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh ITO Naoki joined the signing ceremony through video conference, according to a press release of the ministry.

Road Transport and Highway Division Secretary Nazrul Islam; JICA's chief representative to Bangladesh, Yuho Hayakawa; Project Director Aftab Hossain Khan also took part in the programme from their respective offices.

"This may be the first time such a major and international deal has been signed in Bangladesh virtually due to the prevailing [coronavirus] situation," an official said.