MRT LINE-5

Why do you
need Tk
1,769.21cr for
consultancy?
Planning commission seeks
explanation from DMTCL

File photo of Metro rail/Star

The Planning Commission

has asked for an explanation
regarding the amount metro
rail authorities sought for
consultancy services for the
construction of a new metro
line.
Dhaka Mass Transit Company
Ltd (DMTCL) has sought Tk
1,769.21 crore for consultancy
services for the construction of
Mass Rapid Transit (MRT)
Line-5 (Southern Route).
An explanation was sought
from project authorities as to
why such a large amount of
money will be required for
consultancy services as
preparatory works for the
project have already been
done under a separate project.

Read more
 Mrt Line-5
Construction:
Southern route to
cost 35pc higher
than northern
The commission also raised
some other questions about
the project -- which will build a
17.20km metro rail from
Gabtoli to Dasherkandi via
Kalyanpur, Shyamoli, Asad
Gate, Russel Square,
Panthapath, Karwanbazar,
Hatirjheel, Rampura, and
Aftabnagar.
The estimated cost of the
project is Tk 54,618.96 crore
and the deadline is January
2024 to December 2030. The
Asian Development Bank
(ADB) and South Korea are
expected to give Tk 39,138.26
crore, while the rest will be
borne by the government.
Against this backdrop, the
commission will hold a project
evaluation committee (PEC)
meeting today with
Mohammad Emdad Ullah
Mian, member of the Physical
Infrastructure Division, in the
chair, sources said.
The government has planned
to build a 140km metro rail
network comprising six lines
in Dhaka and adjacent areas
within 2030 to reduce traffic
jams and pollution.
The first line, MRT Line-6 is
now operational from Uttara to
Agargaon, while construction
of MRT Line-1 and MRT Line-5
(Northern route) is now
ongoing.
MRT Line-2 and 4 are still at
the preparatory level.
MRT LINE-5
(SOUTHERN ROUTE)
The DMTCL has already
carried out the feasibility study
for MRT Line-5 (southern
route) under a project funded
by Asian Development Bank
(ADB).
Out of 17.3km, 13.1km would
be underground and 4.2km
elevated.
According to the working
paper of the PEC meeting, the
project authority has sought
Tk 1,769.21 crore for
consultancy services, which is
3.24 percent of the total project
cost.
Of the Tk 1,769.21 crore, Tk
1,310.53 crore will come from
loans, while the rest will come
from the government
exchequer.
When the detailed design of
the project was drawn under a
separate project, a detailed
explanation is needed for such
a huge amount of consultancy
service, it reads.
The Planning Commission also
asked why Tk 203.5 crore,
which served as a commitment
charge for the loan of ADB,
and Tk 5,846.74 crore, which is
for interest on the foreign
debt, were included in the total
project cost.
Because, as per the existing
system, the Economic
Relations Division usually pays
the money from a particular
fund, it reads.
Contacted, Project Director
Abdul Wahab said Tk 1,769.21
crore was sought for hiring
local and international
consultants to supervise the
entire project for next seven
years.
"So, the amount is not that big.
Usually, consultant service
costs account for around 5
percent of the total project
cost," he said, adding that they
have to hire some more
consultants as per the
conditions of the ADB for
environment assessment.
DMTCL hired consultants for
MRT Line-5 (northern route),
which would be a 20km line
with both underground and
elevated sections, at a cost of
Tk 1,123 crore.
Asked why they sought more
than MRT Line-5 (northern
route) for consultancy
services, Wahab said changes
in dollar exchange and time
were the main reasons behind
it.
He said they have already
started the advanced
procurement process and hope
to hire consultants within
February next year if the
project is approved soon.
Once the Planning
Commission cleared the
project, it would be placed
before the Ecnec meeting for
approval, he added.

Related topic: MRT Line-5

construction
in Dhaka
MRT Line-5
Southern
Route
Dhaka MRT
Line-5
construction
consultancy

3 Appellate
Division judges
sworn in
Photo: Ashutosh Sarkar

Three new judges of the

Appellate Division of the
Supreme Court were sworn in
this morning.
Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan
administered the oath at the
Judges' Lounge of the Supreme
Court around 10:30am.
The three judges are Justice
Muhammad Abdul Hafiz,
Justice Md Shahinur Islam and
Justice Kashefa Hussain.
Judges from both Appellate
and High Court Divisions of
the SC and its officials were
present at the oath-taking
ceremony conducted by SC
Registrar General Md Golam
Rabbani.
The three judges have been
elevated from the HC Division
to the Appellate Division of the
Supreme Court yesterday.
With the appointments, the
number of apex court judges
now stands at eight.
President Mohammed
Shahabuddin made the
elevation as per the
constitution, according to a
gazette notification issued by
the law ministry yesterday.

Heatwave alert
extended for 72
hours
Photo: Prabir Das/Star

The Bangladesh
Meteorological Department
(BMD) has issued a warning
that the ongoing heatwave is
likely to persist for 72 more
hours starting this morning.
The BMD cites increased
moisture incursion as a factor
contributing to the sustained
uncomfortable conditions.
This announcement follows
earlier alerts issued on April 19
and April 22, as the BMD
continues to monitor and
respond to the challenging
weather patterns affecting the
region.