A joint venture (JV) of seven companies from Japan, France, India and Bangladesh is set to get the Tk 7.0-billion consultancy work of the second metro-rail project.
Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) will sign a contract in this regard with Nippon Koei Company Limited of Japan, the lead entity of the seven-member JV, at a ceremony today (Wednesday).
Other firms of the JV are - Oriental Consultant Global Company Ltd of Japan, Systra SA of France, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd, Nippon Koei India Pvt Ltd, Katahira and Engineers International of Japan, and Development Design Consultant Ltd of Bangladesh.
Officials said under the contract, the JV will carry out the detailed design work on the mass rapid transit line-1 (MRT-1) project.
The 26.6-kilometre-long MRT is planned in the city's north-eastern corridor - from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) to Kamlapur Rail Station - in both underground and elevated ways.
The JV will also provide technical assistance and support for tender document preparation to the project during the two-year contract period.
DMTCL has planned to construct the second metro-rail with the technical and financial support of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Of the total consultancy work cost of Tk 7.0 billion, JICA will provide around Tk 4.50 billion.
The Japanese government's lending agency signed a deal to provide assistance amounting to 5.59 billion Yen to the MRT-1 project from 38th ODA (official development assistance), under which its feasibility study has been recently completed.
According to the feasibility study, the MRT-1 will be set up from HSIA to Kamlapur Rail Station through Progoti Sarani. A loop from Kuril to the last end of Purbachal new town will also be constructed in elevated way.
In the MRT-1, 19 stations will be set up, including 12 underground stations between HSIA and Kamlapur. Elevated part of the metro-rail will have seven stations from Kuril to Purbachal.
JICA is likely to sign the loan agreement for the MRT-1 construction in next June.
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