Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) has been made the sole implementing agency of all metro-rail projects instead of Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA), officials said.
They said Road Transport and Highways Division (RTHD) under the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges (MoRTB) has given DMTCL the authority of implementing all metro-rail projects after a recent meeting with all the agencies concerned.
The officials added that in the meeting both DTCA and DMTCL highlighted the provisions of project implementation and procurements.
Ultimately, they reached the consensus that DMTCL would be the executing agency of the MRT projects, according to the Japanese ODA loan provisions.
The meeting also decided to inform Planning Commission (PC) in this regard, as its Physical Infrastructure Division asked RTHD to clarify the issue.
DMTCL earlier this year requested PC to correspond with it instead of DTCA.
DMTCL and DTCA have been in a row over engagement in formulating plan and policy of the metro-rail projects along with their implementation and operation, as the first metro-rail project was taken under DTCA.
"The decision in favour of DMTCL has now made it necessary to revise the development project proposal (DPP) of the first metro-rail named as Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project (DMRTD)," said an official.
He also said the DPP of DMRTD showed DTCA as the executing agency of MRT line-6, which is now under construction, he added.
MoRTB undertook the first metro-rail project MRT-6 under DTCA, as it conducted necessary studies of all the mass transport projects, proposed in the city's 25-year-long Strategic Transport Plan (STP).
Later, MoRTB formed a company under DTCA Act in 2013 following prescription of the DMRTD project's Japanese financial partner. It signed the loan agreement with the company to implement and operate MRT-6.
However, due to not hiring necessary staff for the company in time, RTHD strengthened DMRTD project unit under DTCA until end of 2017.
Recently, following pressure from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), DMTCL started hiring staff. The company also regretted to report to DTCA, requesting PC to consider DMTCL as the executing agency.
PC, however, asked DMTCL about its financial authority, as the company board takes all procurement decisions of DMRTD.
STP, which has been revised recently, proposed five MRTs in the city's different corridors.
DTCA has so far conducted feasibility and other related studies for MRT 06, 01 and 05 with JICA's support.
On the other hand, DMTCL has called for expression of interest to shortlist general consultants for MRT 01 and 05 (north).
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