The Cabinet Purchase Committee on Monday approved a total of 13
proposals, including appointment of general consultant for JICA-funded
Metro Rail Project under the Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development
Project (MRT Line-6) and consultant for Kanchpur, Meghna and Gomti 2nd
Bridges. The approval came at a meeting of the cabinet body held
with Finance Minister AMA Muhith in the chair. As per the decision,
Consortium of Nippon Koei of Japan, Nippon Koei of India, Delhi Metro
Rail Corporation of India, Mott Macdonald of the UK, Mott Macdonald of
India and Development Design Consultant of Bangladesh will be
appointed as general consultant of the MRT Line-6 project at a cost of
Tk 928.17 crore. The MRT Line-6 project involves a total cost of Tk
21.985 crore to construct a 20.1 km elevated rail track, 16 rail
stations, one depot, and purchase of 24 rolling stocks for metro rail
operation. The metro rail route alignment is from Uttara 3rd phase
to Motijheel Bangladesh Bank via west side of Pallabi Rokeya Sarani,
Khamarbari, Farmgate, Hotel Sonargaon, Shahbagh, TSC, Doel Chattar and
Topkhana Road. The general consultant will provide services in three
stages such as pre-construction, construction and post-construction.
The services include project management, upgrade studies, engineering
services for civil work for electrical and mechanical, planning
operation and maintenance, institutional development, and environment
and social consideration. Sources said Japanese donor agency JICA
has agreed to divert US$ 400 million from the Padma Bridge project to
the MRT for immediate start of the project implementation. The
Finance Minister said the project will be completed by 2018. The
other proposals that got the cabinet purchase body’s approval include
conversion of Joydevpur-Bhulta highway into a four-lane one, drug
purchase, consultant for the Election Commission project, 250,000
tonnes of TSP fertiliser purchase from Tunisia, 50,000 tonnes of urea
import, and 50,000 tonnes of wheat import. –UNB
