MRT-05 work likely from early next yr

Work on another metro rail on Hemayetput-Gabtoli-Notun Bazar route is likely to start early 2023 as a tender to develop depot land at Hemayetpur was called in June.

Through this tender invited on June 27, the third Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line out of total six planned for the city will reach the construction stage.

Sources say the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Ltd (DMTCL) looks forward to picking a contractor for the 99.25-acre land development work of MRT-05 North at Hemayetpur by January-February.

The tender was invited after handing over Tk 9.34 billion to Dhaka's deputy commissioner for land acquisition, they add.

The land, mostly low-lying and privately owned, will be acquired before the selection of a contractor.

The DMTCL, the state-owned metro rail company, has made good progress in MRT-06 targeting to open half of the 20.1-kilometre corridor by this December.

The MRT-01 is also in the bidding stage to select a contractor for depot land development at Purbachal.

Like MRT-06 and 01, according to sources, work on MRT-05 north depot will be done first before calling a second bid for developing infrastructure on the site.

They, however, say this work includes a road as the depot is located at a distance from the main road.

"If concurrence from the funding agency comes early, depot development may start by January," says an official, adding that tender evaluation may take one-and-a-half month's time after the closing date.

The tender will be closed on September 26.

Official sources say preparing tender documents for other packages like rolling stock and depot infrastructure are also in progress so trains and necessary infrastructure for the line get ready.

Concurrently, work on 13.5-kilometre underground and 6.5-km elevated track of the line will be going on.

The line, which will have 14 stations, including nine underground ones, will have an interchange with MRT-01 at Notunbazar.

Completion of MRT-05 North is targeted for 2028.

According to the DMTCL, detailed design work on the line is going on fully and progress in the detailed design work is recorded 52.50 per cent as of June.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is funding MRT-05 North and the Asian Development Bank bankrolls MRT-05 South from Gabtoli to Dasherkandi.

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