DMTC inks deal on MRT line-06

Dhaka Mass Transit Company (DMTC) has signed the last contract on MRT line-06 with a consortium of Japanese and India companies.

Marubeni of Japan and Larsen and Toubro (L&T) of India got the work to develop electrical and mechanical system for the Mass Rapid Transit Line-06 (MRT) being constructed from Uttara to Motijheel.

The contract for the last package was signed involving Tk 49.30 billion.

DMTC Managing Director MAN Siddique and chief executive of Railway Business of L&T Rajeev Jyoti signed the contract on behalf of their respective sides on Sunday.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader witnessed the signing ceremony held at Bangabandhu International Convention Centre.

Indian High Commissioner Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Japanese Ambassador Hiroyasu Izumi, Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary Md. Nazrul Islam and JICA Chief Representative Takatoshi Nishikata attended the signing ceremony.

Project Director of Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project M Aftabuddin Talukdar and CEO & MD of L&T Ltd, India SN Subrahmanyan were also present.

DMTC is constructing a 20.1-kilometre metro rail known as Mass Rapid Transit Line-06 (MRT 06), dividing the works into eight packages.

Under the latest contract on electrical and mechanical system, the contractor will develop railway tracks, power substation to supply electricity to trains and stations and signaling system and install lifts and escalators at stations and depot locations, platform automated doors, automated ticketing systems and counters for smooth, secure and efficient operation of metro rail.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Obaidul Quader said a significant progress has been made in the MRT-06 project despite 'unavoidable' delay in its implementation.

He said three more MRTs are in the pipeline of which feasibility study on MRT-05 is underway and MRT-01 and 02 are in the process. "MRT is no more a dream, but a reality now."

Praising the Indian and Japanese governments' support to infrastructure development in the country, the minister said Japan is the top development partner in infrastructure projects in Bangladesh.

He also thanked those countries for completing the construction of three bridges on Dhaka-Chattogram highway six months ahead of the schedule which saved Tk 7.0 billion.

The minister expressed the hope that the Indian and Japanese joint-venture would also ensure the quality of work and complete the package-07 within a stipulated time.

While talking with the FE, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director L and T companies SN Subrahmanyan said the L and T will carry out the 50-month work in two phases as an executing agency.

"Marubeni and L&T have required engineering and project management capability to do the work," Mr. Subrahmanyan said on the sidelines of the contract signing ceremony.

The Indian High Commissioner highlighted Indian companies' contribution to developing the MRT-06 and said Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (India) is also involved with the Dhaka Metro Rail project as a consultant.

He praised the L&T for building over 40-km tunnel, 130-km viaduct and 135 stations for metro rail in India and said Indian companies have gained experience by operating 11 rapid transit systems in 10 cities of India, starting Kolkata Metro first in 1984.

India has approximately 425-km operational Metro Line and 347 stations. A 500-km line is also under construction.

L&T was also a partner in implementing phase-01 and phase-02 of the Delhi Metro System and worked with the Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kochi and Lucknow Metros apart from working in Riyadh, Doha and Mauritius.

In Bangladesh, L&T has been involved in several projects in the power sector of Bangladesh (360 MW Bheramara combined cycle power project, 225 MW Sikalbaha combined sector power project, 400 MW gas-based power plant at Bibiyana), the CEO told the FE.

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