Tk 460 Billion in Metro Rail Contracts Approved for Two Dhaka Lines

The government has approved procurement proposals worth nearly Tk 46,000 crore for the construction of various infrastructure components of Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Line-1 and Line-5.

Eight proposals related to the two metro rail projects were approved at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase held at the Secretariat on Thursday. Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury chaired the meeting.

Of the eight proposals, construction work for four packages under Line-1 and one package under Line-5 was approved. The committee also recommended approval of procurement proposals for two additional Line-1 packages and one package under the northern route of Line-5.

Tk 11,590 crore for underground section

Under Package CP-06 of Line-1, a 5.182km underground section will be constructed from the northern end of Badda Station to Airport Station. The section will include two tunnels with a combined length of 4.15km and three underground stations.

The stations will be Airport, Airport Terminal 3 and Khilkhet. A shaft will also be constructed to facilitate the operation of tunnel boring machines (TBMs).

The project will cost Tk 11,590.58 crore, including VAT and taxes.

Two of the seven pre-qualified companies submitted bids, and both were deemed technically acceptable. A joint venture involving Japan’s Nishimatsu, TPL and Toda was subsequently recommended as the lowest bidder.

However, its bid was 32.05% higher than the government’s estimated cost, excluding VAT and taxes.

Power and signalling costs also exceed estimates

Under Line-1 Package CP-09, tracks and electrical infrastructure will be constructed. The package includes rails, turnouts, points and crossings, as well as a 132kV primary feeder, receiving substation, auxiliary substations, a 33/0.415kV electricity distribution network and a 1,500-volt overhead power supply system.

The work is expected to cost Tk 11,065.58 crore.

Of the two pre-qualified companies, only one submitted a bid. A joint venture between India’s Larsen & Toubro and Sumitomo has been recommended for the contract. Its bid was 49.92% higher than the government estimate.

Package CP-10 will cover signalling and telecommunications, platform screen doors and an asset management system. It will include communication-based automatic train control, an optical-fibre network and an LTE-based wireless communication system.

The estimated cost of this package is Tk 6,446.65 crore. India’s Larsen & Toubro has been recommended as the lowest bidder, with its bid 50.89% above the government estimate.

Depot and elevated sections also worth thousands of crores

Under Line-1 Package CP-02, construction will include depot workshops, stabling sheds, an operations control centre, a technical management centre, various substations and tracks.

The project is expected to cost Tk 4,285 crore, including VAT and taxes. A joint venture between Sinohydro and SEBCL has been recommended for the work.

Under Line-5 Package CP-03, a total of 6.50km of elevated track will be constructed. This will include a 5.6km section from Hemayetpur to Aminbazar and a 0.9km section from beyond Natun Bazar to Bhatara.

Five elevated stations will also be constructed at Hemayetpur, Baliarpur, Bilamalia, Aminbazar and Bhatara.

The work is estimated to cost Tk 2,671 crore. A joint venture involving China’s CREC, MIL and MBEL has been recommended as the lowest bidder. Its bid was 0.69% higher than the government estimate.

Three more packages

Under Line-1 Package CP-04, the main line and stations will be constructed from the northern end of Rampura Station to Natun Bazar Station. The base contract value is Tk 18,037.26 crore.

A Tokyu-MIL joint venture from Japan has been recommended as the bidder.

Under Package CP-07, a 5.007km main line and stations will be constructed from the transition section to the beginning of the Balu River. The base contract value is Tk 2,534 crore.

A CREC-MIL-MBEC joint venture could be awarded the work.

Under Package CP-02 of the northern route of Line-5, civil works and depot buildings will be constructed. The base contract value is Tk 1,848 crore.

A joint venture between Concord Pragati Consortium and Hanil Engineering & Construction has been recommended for the contract.

Projects scheduled to continue until 2033

The first revised development projects for both Line-1 and Line-5 were approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on 16 September.

Both projects are scheduled to run from 1 September 2019 to 31 December 2033.

The Line-5 route will run from Gabtoli through Technical Mor, Kallyanpur, Shyamoli, College Gate, Asad Gate, Shukrabad, Karwan Bazar, Hatirjheel, Tejgaon, Aftabnagar, Aftabnagar Centre, Aftabnagar East and Nasirabad before reaching Dasherkandi.

Line-1 is being developed along two routes: from the airport to Kamalapur and from Natun Bazar to Purbachal.

The Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) is implementing both projects.

The projects are being jointly financed by the Government of Bangladesh and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).