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Expanding urban mass transit infrastructure across the capital, the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase approved a massive procurement package valued at Tk 585 billion for two new metro rail lines on Thursday (October 1). The procurement packages cover major civil works, underground tunnelling, rolling stock power infrastructure, and advanced signalling systems under Line-1 and Line-5 of the Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project. The decision was finalized during a cabinet committee meeting held at the Secretariat, presided over by Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury.
The largest single authorization involved Package CP-06 of Line-1, allocating Tk 115.91 billion for constructing 5.182 kilometres of underground track connecting the northern end of Badda Station to the Airport Station. This underground section includes twin 4.15-kilometre tunnels and three underground stations at Airport, Terminal-3, and Khilkhet. The civil contract was awarded to a joint venture comprising Japanese firms Nishimatsu, TPL, and Toda, despite their bid exceeding the initial state engineering estimate by 32.05 percent.
The cabinet committee also sanctioned Package CP-09, valued at Tk 110.66 billion, for Line-1 tracks, turnouts, electrical substations, and a 1,500-volt overhead power delivery system awarded to a joint venture of India's Larsen & Toubro and Japan's Sumitomo. Signalling, optical fibre networks, and platform screen doors under Package CP-10 were approved at Tk 64.47 billion, while Line-1's Pitolganj depot workshops were cleared at Tk 42.85 billion. For Line-5 (Northern Route), Package CP-03 was authorized, committing funds for a 6.5-kilometre viaduct and five elevated stations between Hemayetpur and Bhatara.
Transportation economists and urban planners praised the clearance of long-stalled procurement files, noting that completing Lines 1 and 5 is essential to alleviating surface road congestion along the Airport and Mirpur corridors. Analysts observed that linking Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport directly to central commercial districts via underground rail will shorten commuter travel times to under 30 minutes. Urban planners urged Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) to establish strict traffic diversion plans to minimize road disruption during surface excavation works.
Addressing reporters at the Secretariat on Thursday following the procurement decisions, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury affirmed the government's commitment to public infrastructure delivery. Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said, "These metro rail extensions represent nation-building investments designed to modernize urban mobility; we have scrutinized the engineering bids thoroughly to ensure transparent execution and long-term economic returns". DMTCL project directors plan to sign the commercial civil contracts later this month.
https://thedailyexpress.news/news/metro/1f1bdb6a-ca72-6a10-b950-b9438274b2b9