Japan to continue aid to metro rail project

Breaking the stalemate after the Holey Artisan incident, Japan has come forward to support the government in implementing another metro rail project.
Officials said a fact-finding mission of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), during its visit to Dhaka last month, gave Bangladesh hints of giving loan for implementing the mass rapid transit line-1 (MRT-1) project.
They also said the mission hinted about the Japanese government's financing in MRT-1 in its next ODA (official development assistance) as well as providing technical assistance for MRT-5.
The 38th ODA is likely to be signed in the middle of 2017. The last ODA was signed just two days before the Holey Artisan attack, in which a number of Japanese nationals, mainly consultants of metro-rail projects, became victims.
Sources said the loan agreement will be finalized after completion of more visits by other JICA missions, starting from next year.
The government has set plan to construct five MRT lines and two bus rapid transit lines (BRT) following recommendations in the revised strategic transport plan (RSTP). It proposed to establish a mass transit system covering 1,528 km area of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK).
Soon after RSTP was finalised with technical expertise of Japanese consultants, the government requested JICA to conduct feasibility study on MRT-1 and MRT-5.
MRT-1 is planned to be set up from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Kamlapur along with a loop with Purbachal.
The officials concerned said the studies in this regard were launched. But both were slowed down after the tragic incident of Holey Artisan.
JICA has agreed to complete the studies in the next six months and sign the loan agreement for MRT-1 due to taking necessary actions and giving assurance of providing security to the Japanese nationals by the government.
They also said MRT-5 is likely to be co-financed, as Asian Development Bank (ADB) has also shown interest to provide support for developing mass transit system here.
JICA has so far provided all necessary support to construct the country's first metro rail - MRT-6 - from Uttara to Motijheel through Pallabi, Mirpur, Farmgate, Shahbag and Paltan.
JICA and Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) signed minutes of discussion in March to carry out the survey on MRT-1 and MRT-5 on east-west and north-south directions.
smunima@yahoo.com