The initial work of Mass Rapid Transit Line-5 (MRT-5) was progressing amid the Covid-19 pandemic, officials said.
The authorities concerned have started the detailed design work of the MRT-5 North (Savar's Hemayetpur to Bhatara) after completing its feasibility study and basic design in June last.
The groundwork for the feasibility study and basic design of MRT-5 South (Gabtoli to Dasherkandi) have also been started, following a contract with a French company-led consortium in March last.
Sources said the feasibility study and basic design work of the MRT-5 North was completed in time despite the coronavirus situation deteriorating since February last.
With a target to launch the 20-kilometre MRT 5 North by 2028, various surveys and land acquisition works were also being carried out.
According to the MRT 5 South project office, the consultants have just started conducting the feasibility study and the detailed design work and procurement document preparation would be completed in next three years.
Project director Aftab Hossain Khan said the work on the MRT 5 North was progressing as per the schedule, but the South project was lagging slightly behind in the absence of the lead consultant amid travel restrictions.
PD of Southern part of the MRT-5 Mohammad Abdul Wadud expected the work to get momentum after improvement of the coronavirus situation.
He said that the local consultants were engaged in the initial works while the foreign consultants were taking part in the process virtually.
Sources said the contracts with the financiers of both lines were completed in time which enabled the project offices under the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) to continue the work within the limitation.
Japan International Cooperation Agency is funding the northern part while the Asian Development Bank southern part. The JICA contract was signed in June last year and the ADB one in 2019.
Officials said that due to importance of the MRT projects, the government has allowed the DMTCL to carry necessary works of all metro rail lines through following the health guidelines.
DMTCL has been working to set up 128.741 km metro rail corridors in underground and elevated way in the city under six MRT lines by 2030.
Total 104 stations including 53 underground ones will be set up to facilitate commuters in the city's north, south, east and west get faster mobility.
Of them, MRT line 6 is at under construction stage making progress in viaducts of the 20.1 km elevated lines, depot infrastructure and rolling stock. The MRT 1 has also started opening the tender to carry depot development work.
The MRT lines 2 and 4 are being planned to set up under public-private partnership (PPP).
