Nippon Koei-led consortium bags $US127m consultancy contract of Dhaka Metro's Line-5

Dhaka, Bangladesh (Urban Transport News): DHAKA Mass Transit Company (DMTCL) has awarded a consultancy contract worth $US 127m (Yen 13.5bn) to a Nippon Koei-led consortium of seven businesses for the 20 km Mass Rail Transit Line 5 North section. DMTCL oversees the implementation of the metro rail project in the national capital of Bangladesh.

The scope of the work of contract will cover the detailed design of the east-west line, tender assistance and supervision of construction work, including the implementation of a traffic control system, until March 2032.

The consortium led by Nippon Koei comprises French engineering consultant Systra MVA, Indian Metro operator Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, Development Design Consultants, Bangladesh, and three other Japanese engineering consultants. This consortium was previously awarded an engineering service contract for Line 1 of the Dhaka Metro Rail project in October 2018.

Line 5 of Dhaka Metro is divided into two sections viz. North and South. Line 5 North section is scheduled to open in early 2030 with a daily passenger capacity of 400,000. The section spans between Hemayetpur and Vatara and includes a 13.5km underground stretch through high-density areas between Gabtoli and Notun Bazar.

Another underground South section will span from Gabtoli, via Adabor, Mohammadpur, Kalabagan, Karwan Bazar, Hatirjheel, and South Badda, to Aftab Nagar. Feasibility studies, engineering design, and procurement documentation for the South Section will be funded through a $US 33.26m loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) which was approved in November 2019.

The Dhaka Metro Rail project is intended to reduce traffic congestion and curb environmental pollution in the city, which is one of the most densely populated in the world. A total of five lines are planned to begin operation before 2030, with the first, the 20.1km MRT Line 6, due to open at the end of 2021.