Despite the planned physical work start of the Mass Rapid Transit Line-1 in December this year, the project authorities have yet to get the utility lines relocated thanks to "non-cooperation" from two Dhaka city corporations and the Roads and Highways Department over the past 18 months.
The Mass Rapid Transit Line-1 (MRT-1) is the city's second metro rail project, which will connect the Dhaka Airport with Kamalapur.
For the relocations, the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) has repeatedly requested permission through official letters and meetings, but Dhaka North City Corporation, Dhaka South City Corporation and the Roads and Highways Department have not responded, according to sources,
Meanwhile, DMTCL has already started the contractor selection process for the 31.24km rail corridor including overhead and underground stretches.
However, the utility relocations, which are necessary to prepare the entire corridor for construction, have been stalled.
Due to a delay in the tender process, The MRT-1 project office has revised its target start date for physical work from June to December. There have been some positive developments in the past two months.
Contract packages for both the underground and elevated line construction have been opened and the financial offer for one package will be opened in the first week of May.
A project official said the utility shifting would be time-consuming, given the presence of high-voltage power cables (11 kV to 132 kV) alongside lines of at least 12 other agencies, including gas, sewerage and water.
DMTCL reportedly sent its initial request to Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) in 2022, followed by similar requests to other authorities, but to no avail.
The Financial Express attempted to contact the Dhaka Zone additional chief engineer of the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) and the chief engineer of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) for comment, but there was no response by the time of filing this report on Monday.
However, another source said both the RHD and DSCC are demanding compensation from the project office to relocate the utilities. This relocation work has been awarded to the Bangladesh Army's 24 Engineer Construction Brigade.
Sources said they fear already notorious Dhaka traffic may worsen once the relocations start.
Project Director Kashem Bhuiya told the FE that DMTCL will soon sign revised memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with all relevant agencies to speed up the utility relocation work.
"Despite the current situation, we have already begun work in Khilkhet," Mr Bhuiya said. "This step is necessary to prepare the corridor for the physical construction contractors."
The MRT 1 route will span from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Kamalapur Railway Station. The line will consist of a 19.87 km underground section and an 11.36km elevated section from Notun Bazar to Purbachal.
Following the commencement of the depot site last year, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formally inaugurated construction, marking the city's first underground metro project.
DMTCL plans to develop a network of six MRT lines, with MRT 6 already operational since December 30.
The utility relocation for MRT-6 also faced similar challenges due to uncooperative agencies. Despite DMTCL's initial plan of completing the work within two months to minimise public inconvenience, the process took nearly a year.
The MRT-1 project is currently scheduled for completion in 2026.
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