The government will start detailed design of a fresh metro-rail line between Airport and Kamalapur, as the agency concerned has sought approval of a project in this regard, officials said on Wednesday.
Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges (MoRTB) officials said the state-run Dhaka Mass Transport Company Limited (DMTCL) has framed a Tk 7.09 billion-cost project for preparing detailed design and related engineering services of the MRT Line-1.
The route of the new MRT Line is: Airport-Khilkhet-Notun Bazar-Badda-Malibag-Kamlapur and a connecting line to Jamuna Future Park-Bashundhara-Purbachal.
"We have sent a Tk 7.09-billion project proposal to the Planning Commission (PC), seeking its approval. Soon after getting approval, we will appoint consultant for completing the detailed design of the MRT Line-1 by December 2021," said a senior DMTCL official.
He said the consultant will also prepare the bidding documents after the detailed design for hiring a contractor to start construction work of the 27-km metro line.
Besides, under the proposed project, the consultant will also prepare land acquisition plan, resettlement action plan and some other related works for the Airport-Kamlapur metro rail, he added.
DMTCL officials said out of the total cost, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will provide Tk 4.05 billion funds for the detailed design.
They also said they had a plan to invite international tender by 2021 for starting construction of the MRT Line-1.
A PC official said they are scrutinising the DMTCL's project bid for the engineering services of MRT line-1.
"If we find the project is viable, we will recommend it to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for approval," he told the FE.
Meanwhile, the government has started construction of the 20-km metro-rail line-6 from Uttara 3rd Phase-Pallabi-Agargaon-Farmgate-Shahbag-Motijheel.
It has decided to construct some mass rapid transportation systems in the capital and the adjacent areas to make the traffic system smooth and easy for the passengers.
The government, with the financial support of JICA, has almost completed feasibility study for the two fresh metro rails - MRT Line-1 and MRT Line-5 - inside the capital at a cost of Tk 463.70 million, Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) Executive Director Syed Ahmed told the FE.
DMTCL has also planned to build the 35-km MRT Line-5 from Hemayetpur-Gabtoli-Mirpur Section 1-Mirpur Section 10-Kochukhet-Gulshan-Notunbazar-Vatara, he said.
They have planned to build an underground line from Airport to Kamlapur, while the Khilkhet-Purbachal line will be an elevated one.