The government has taken another major step towards implementing the country’s first underground metro rail project, MRT Line-1, with the signing of construction contracts for four key packages.
The contracts cover the construction of underground tunnels and stations, railway tracks, and power, signalling and telecommunications infrastructure.
The agreements were signed on Wednesday (November 4) at the Metro Rail Building in Diabari, Uttara, located within the MRT Line-6 depot area.
The project is being implemented by Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) with joint financing from the Bangladesh government and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Under package CP-04, a 4.447-kilometre underground section will be constructed from the northern end of Rampura underground station to Notun Bazar station.
Package CP-06 will cover the construction of a 5.182-kilometre underground section from the northern end of Nadda underground station to Airport station. Together, the two packages will add 9.629 kilometres of underground railway infrastructure.
Package CP-09 involves track installation, including rails, turnouts, points and crossings, along with the necessary electrical infrastructure.
Meanwhile, package CP-10 covers the installation of signalling and telecommunications systems, platform screen doors and an Enterprise Resource Management System (ERMS).
The signalling system will use communication-based automatic train control technology. An optical fibre-based transmission network and an LTE-based radio communication system will also be established.
Speaking as the chief guest at the contract-signing ceremony, Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary Dr Mohammad Ziaul Haque said expanding the metro rail network to develop a safe, modern and environment-friendly urban transport system was one of the government’s key priorities.
He said MRT Line-1, the country’s first underground metro rail project, would open a new chapter in Dhaka’s public transport system.
Thanking the Japanese government and JICA for their continued support, the secretary described the signing of the four package contracts as a significant milestone in the project.
He urged contractors to maintain the highest standards of construction quality and safety, comply with labour laws and other relevant regulations, and complete the work within the stipulated timeframe to minimise public inconvenience.
He also stressed environmental protection, the welfare of residents living near project areas, and effective coordination among the implementing authority, engineers and contractors.
Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi praised the longstanding friendship, mutual trust and development partnership between the two countries. He thanked the Bangladesh government for taking initiatives to resume and accelerate the project and reaffirmed Japan’s continued support for Bangladesh’s infrastructure development.
DMTCL Managing Director Shafiqul Alam delivered the welcome address. JICA Bangladesh Chief Representative Junko Takahashi, senior project officials, consultants and representatives of contracting firms also attended the event.
