Relocation of utility lines toughest task

The Dhaka metro rail project is now facing challenges like shifting the utility lines underground and handling the growing volume of traffic during the construction period.
This was stated by Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development (DMRTD) Project Director Mofazzel Hossain while talking to journalists at the project office on Thursday.
He said like other development projects, the DMRTD was facing three challenges. The challenge of land acquisition was less formidable than that for any other project as the MRT line-6 elevated way is planned along the median.
However, the PD said the project office, with cooperation of general consultants and other concerned government agencies, was working to resolve the challenges keeping enough time for relocation of the utility lines.
He said controlling traffic during the 20-kilometre MRT line construction had also been planned keeping in mind the sufferings of people it might cause.
"We are trying to manage traffic in many ways like diverting traffic of certain corridors to alternative roads, working at night etc. We are also trying to accommodate experiences of other agencies which are constructing structures like flyovers in the city so that similar problems could be avoided while implementing the MRT project," Mr Mofazzel said.
He, however, admitted that people's sufferings might not be totally avoided even after all such efforts due to various reasons.
He also shared with the press the progress in the DMRTD project. He said all the three consultants were working for drawing up the detailed design, institutional development and resettlement plan to start the construction work by 2017.
Most of the surveys under the project including topographic survey, field level geotechnical survey, right-of-way survey, traffic survey, historical importance or archeological survey were completed. Utility verification survey and laboratory geotechnical survey would be completed by the current year.
Referring to the challenge to start part of the MRT line-6 by 2019 which the government has planned taking into account the next election in 2020, the PD said opening up of MRT up to Agargaon from Uttara would be possible due to location of the green area and it would be open on a trial basis with the target to gradually extend the line to other parts.
During the press meet, Hideo Omori, team leader of the general consultant firm NKDM Association, Nurul Amin, Director, Finance and Administration of the DMRTD project and Nurul Islam, safeguard expert of the NKDM spoke, among others. Additional project director Mahbubul Alam and other officials of the DMRTD project were also present.
smunima@yahoo.com