Cabinet set to approve metro rail route today

The country's first metro rail has moved closer to reality as the Cabinet is set to approve its route plan and create an authority today (Monday) to implement the estimated US$1.7 billion mass transport project. Officials said both the ministries of communications and finance have approved a Japanese plan to construct the 21.5 kilomtre-subway in Dhaka and it now needs a Cabinet approval to start the project work in full swing. A positive decision from the government's highest decision-making body will pave the way for land acquisition, removing obstruction on the route and formation of mass rapid transit authority to coordinate, implement and operate the mass transport system. "We hope the Cabinet will give its seal of approval to the project," a senior communications ministry official told the FE. "Once we get the nod, we can start our time-bound plans to start the project work," he added. The Cabinet approval also means the government will have to freeze construction of all sorts of roads, underpasses and flyovers along the metro rail route, officials said. Experts said metro rail can greatly reduce Dhaka's acute traffic snarls because it has the capacity to carry hundreds of thousands of commuters in an hour. Metro rails have improved traffic situation in some of the most congested cities in South East Asia. "Most experts agree that it is the best way to kill traffic gridlock," said an official. The government is implementing the project with Japanese credit. The experts of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have conducted primary studies on it and prepared a route plan. JICA, a major donor, has insisted that the government chalk up a time-frame to implement the project and keep the existing route plan undisturbed, officials familiar with the negotiations said. A JICA mission last month signed minutes of discussion (MOD) with the communication ministry and Economic Relations Division (ERD) to ensure better coordination in implementing the 21.5 kilometre rail. The Japanese aid agency was annoyed late last year when the government started the Jatrabari flyover along the route it proposed for the metro rail. A plan to build four underpasses along the alignment was also not favourably considered by the JICA. Construction of the flyover has led to change of the original metro rail route plan by the JICA. Dhaka Transport Coordination Board (DTCB)has already proposed changes in the alignment to avoid conflict with the flyover. Initially, the metro rail was planned to start at Pallabi and end at Sayedabad. The DTCB has now asked the JICA study team to divert the route from Shahbagh to National Press Club and reach Sayedabad through Motijheel. Officials said the Cabinet is likely to give, in principle, the approval to form special project organisation to start the rail project work before a dedicated mass transport department is formed through an Act. Furthermore, the Cabinet is likely to approve a proposal to form Dhaka transport coordination authority today (Monday), they said, adding the body will harmonise work of all state-owned road and transport related agencies. The JICA study team, finalising the metro rail route, was earlier expected to complete its work by February. Its work will now be delayed by four more months because the earlier plan was in disarray due to the flyover construction. During the visit, the JICA mission has laid importance on setting up an institution immediately and asked the government to keep the subway undisturbed before the start of construction. The finance minister endorsed the JICA plan late last month. A June deadline is also to be set for forming two important institutions to implement and operate mass transit system. The decision also has been taken about a plan to recruit engineers and officials for the proposed rail.