First contractor for MRT-5 north picked

In a major development, the metro rail authority has finalised the first contractor which will begin the physical work of the country's third metro rail project titled Mass Rapid Transit Line-5 (Northern Route).

The work will start with the construction of a depot at Hemayetpur and a Japan-Bangladesh joint venture firm has been selected for the job, according to a document of the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Ltd (DMTCL).

The work is expected to start next month, said an official of the DMTCL, the implementing agency of the project.

JV of TOA Corporation of Japan and Spectra Group of Bangladesh will get Tk 1,189 crore for soil improvement and land development for the depot.

The project authority sent a letter signed by Director Aftaf Hossain Khan, to the firm yesterday accepting their bid for the work following the pre-contract negotiation.

"We sent the letter after our board approved the firm's proposal. We hope to sign a contract with the firm by this month," DMTCL Secretary Mohammad Abdur Rouf told The Daily Star last night.

The project to build a 20km rail line from Savar's Hemayetpur to Bhatara via Gabtoli, Mirpur, and Gulshan will cost Tk 41,239 crore. The deadline for the project is 2028.

The line will have underground and elevated sections and 14 stations.

The metro authorities in June 2020 hired a consortium, led by Nippon Koei, to come up with the detailed design and tender documents and to supervise the construction work.

At least 85 percent of the detailed design was done as of April this year.

The authorities acquired 99.25 acres of land at a cost of Tk 934.84 crore for the depot and its access corridor. The land acquisition process made 85 percent progress so far.