Govt clears Tk58,478cr in 8 major packages for MRT Line-1, Line-5
The packages cover civil works, stations, tracks, electrical systems, signalling and other infrastructure.
The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase today (1 October) approved or recommended approval of procurement proposals worth Tk58,477.71 crore for eight major infrastructure packages under Dhaka's MRT Line-1 and Line-5 Northern Route projects.
The projects, being implemented by Dhaka Mass Transit Company Ltd (DMTCL) with joint financing from the Bangladesh government and Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica), are aimed at expanding the capital's metro rail network.
The committee, chaired by Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, approved or recommended the packages at a meeting at the Secretariat today.
The eight packages involve 13 named companies from five countries. Japan and China have the largest share, with four companies each, followed by Bangladesh with three. India and South Korea have one company each.
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The largest proposal, worth Tk18,037 crore, covers construction of the main line and stations from Rampura to Natun Bazar (CP-04) under MRT Line-1. Japan's Tokyu Construction and Bangladesh's Max Infrastructure Ltd formed the recommended joint venture (JV) for the work.
The second-largest proposal, worth Tk11,590 crore, covers construction of 5.182km of the main line and stations from the northern part of Nadda station to the airport (CP-06). Japan's Nishimatsu Construction and Toda Corporation are partnering with TPL in the recommended JV.
A Tk11,065 crore proposal for track and electrical facilities (CP-09) was also approved, with India's Larsen & Toubro and Japan's Sumitomo in the consortium.
The committee also approved two proposals worth around Tk6,446 crore for signalling, telecommunications, platform screen doors and other technical systems (CP-10), with India's Larsen and Toubro Ltd selected for the work.
A Tk4,285 crore proposal for civil and building works at the MRT Line-1 depot (CP-02) was recommended for approval, with Chinese firms Sinohydro-Sebcl JV recommended for the work.
For MRT Line-5 Northern Route, the committee recommended approval of a Tk2,670.98 crore proposal for construction of the main line and five stations along the elevated section from Hemayetpur to Aminbazar and via Natun Bazar to Vatara (CP-03).
China's CREC (China Railway Group Limited) and MBEC (China Railway Major Bridge Engineering Group) were recommended to partner with Bangladesh's Max Infrastructure Ltd.
A Tk2,534 crore proposal for construction of 5.007km of line and stations from the transition area to the beginning of the Balu River (CP-07) under MRT Line-1 was also approved, with China's CREC and MBEC partnering with Bangladesh's Max Infrastructure Ltd.
The smallest of the eight packages, worth Tk1,847.52 crore, covers civil and building works at the MRT Line-5 Northern Route depot (CP-02). Bangladesh's Concord Pragatee Consortium and South Korea's Hanil Engineering & Construction were recommended for the work.
Two major metro routes
MRT Line-1 is being developed in two sections spanning 31.241km. The 19.872km Airport-Kamalapur section will run entirely underground and have 12 underground stations, while the 11.369km Natun Bazar-Pitalganj Depot section will comprise elevated and underground sections with nine stations.
The Airport-Kamalapur route will include the country's first underground metro rail.
The MRT Line-5 Northern Route will run about 20km from Hemayetpur to Vatara, including 13.50km underground and 6.50km elevated sections. It will have 14 stations – nine underground and five elevated – and will be implemented through 10 packages.
The procurement approvals cover civil construction as well as track, electrical, signalling, telecommunications and other systems needed to develop the two routes.
