Move to launch two more metro rail projects by June

Dhaka Mass Transit Company Ltd (DMTCL) has planned to start the process of implementing two more metro rail projects in the city's two corridors by June this year.
Sources said the state-owned company has also taken steps to start the recruitment process for increasing the number of professionals for readying the two metro rail projects named as Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) lines 1 and 5.
At present, DMTCL is constructing MRT line 6 from Uttara to Motijheel by awarding six work packages, out of eight.
Sources said the company has accelerated its implementation process after Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) set the target during a mission in December.
"We have already sought Tk 5.0 billion from the Ministry of Finance to create the company's fund so that the recruitment process of professionals is completed by April," said a source.
He said the project office for the two metro rail projects would be opened under the company after getting the fund
which was earlier opened under the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority.
As part of its six-month plan, DMTCL will complete formalities to get approval from the authorities concerned including Dhaka Cantonment through which MRT line 1 will cross.
Besides, it will revise the resettlement action plan and complete the process of getting approval for both MRT 1 and 5 projects from the Planning Commission.
The MRT 1 and 5 projects have been taken up under the Revised Strategic Transport Plan (RSTP) to set up two more metro railway lines. The 50-kilometre MRT-1 has been planned from Airport station to Kamalapur station through a loop from Kuril to Purbachal.
However, the 35-km MRT-5 has been planned in two parts - one from Hemayetpur to Natun Bazar through Dhaka Cantonment and another from Gabtoli bus terminal to Hatirjheel through Mirpur Road.
With technical assistance of JICA, a feasibility study on MRT 1 from Hemayetpur to Natun Bazar has already been completed.
Sources said of the two parts of the MRT 5, JICA is conducting a feasibility study on the first part, but will implement the project in cooperation with Asian Development Bank (ADB).
All the metro rail projects taken up so far are being implemented with technical and financial support of JICA.
During the last JICA mission in December, it was agreed that ADB will co-finance the MRT 5 project, but will also conduct a feasibility study on the other part being planned from Gabtoli bus terminal to Hatirjheel through Mirpur Road.
The six-month plan was taken aiming to open the tender for the MRT 1 project, sources added.
According to RSTP, the MRT 1 is likely to facilitate 1.9 million passengers per day while the MRT 5 nearly 1.5 million per day.
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