SPO on metro rail approved
Munima Sultana | Sunday, 27 February 2011
Munima Sultana
The ministry of finance has endorsed the proposal for formation of special project organisation (SPO) to start work on metro rail in the city's busiest northern and southern parts. Finance minister AMA Muhith signed the proposal for SPO last week in compliance with the minutes of discussion (MOD), signed between the government and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to ensure better coordination in implementing the 21.5 kilometre metro rail. Officials said the proposal to form the SPO is expected to be sent to the cabinet for approval this week. They said the JICA mission during its recent visit laid importance on setting up an institution on urgent basis so that the US 1.7 billion metro rail (MRT line-6) remains undisturbed before starting construction. A number of ministries and agencies have already taken conflicting positions on the main alignment from Pallabi to Sayedabad. "The special project organisation is essential for proceeding with the metro rail project without trouble before its construction starts," a senior official said adding that since the JICA-funded team is to complete its study, the organisation will now take initiatives to embark upon the next course of work. The study team working under Dhaka Transport Coordination Board (DTCB) was supposed to complete its report by February but it will now take four months more to carry out feasibility study on the proposed change in alignment. The study team's alignment has face obstacles mainly due to under-construction Jatrabari flyover and four underpasses from Shahbagh to Sonargaon crossing taken by Dhaka City Corporation (DCC), showing lack of coordination. The officials said the finance minister has directed DTCB to form the SPO by June and submit immediately its organogram to the concerned ministries for necessary recruitment. The JICA mission during its visit to Bangladesh from January 30 to February 03 talked with the communications and related ministries and agencies and signed MOD with the communications ministry and the economic relations division (ERD), setting a timeframe for smooth implementation of the MRT line-6. The DTCB official said the SPO will be working until a special institution is formed to operate and run the MRT.
The ministry of finance has endorsed the proposal for formation of special project organisation (SPO) to start work on metro rail in the city's busiest northern and southern parts. Finance minister AMA Muhith signed the proposal for SPO last week in compliance with the minutes of discussion (MOD), signed between the government and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to ensure better coordination in implementing the 21.5 kilometre metro rail. Officials said the proposal to form the SPO is expected to be sent to the cabinet for approval this week. They said the JICA mission during its recent visit laid importance on setting up an institution on urgent basis so that the US 1.7 billion metro rail (MRT line-6) remains undisturbed before starting construction. A number of ministries and agencies have already taken conflicting positions on the main alignment from Pallabi to Sayedabad. "The special project organisation is essential for proceeding with the metro rail project without trouble before its construction starts," a senior official said adding that since the JICA-funded team is to complete its study, the organisation will now take initiatives to embark upon the next course of work. The study team working under Dhaka Transport Coordination Board (DTCB) was supposed to complete its report by February but it will now take four months more to carry out feasibility study on the proposed change in alignment. The study team's alignment has face obstacles mainly due to under-construction Jatrabari flyover and four underpasses from Shahbagh to Sonargaon crossing taken by Dhaka City Corporation (DCC), showing lack of coordination. The officials said the finance minister has directed DTCB to form the SPO by June and submit immediately its organogram to the concerned ministries for necessary recruitment. The JICA mission during its visit to Bangladesh from January 30 to February 03 talked with the communications and related ministries and agencies and signed MOD with the communications ministry and the economic relations division (ERD), setting a timeframe for smooth implementation of the MRT line-6. The DTCB official said the SPO will be working until a special institution is formed to operate and run the MRT.