The government is set to revise the MRT-6 project for the second time, with an additional allocation of Tk 5.76 billion for consultancy services, officials said on Monday, despite a substantial amount of money already spent on the same component from the ongoing outlay.
The Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) has already spent Tk 11.64 billion on consultancy services for building the metro line from the city's Uttara to Motijheel.
The Planning Commission (PC) is likely to place the revision proposal before the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) today (Tuesday), seeking approval for raising the overall cost by 52 per cent to Tk 334.72 billion.
Currently, the cost of the 20.1-km MRT-6 project is Tk 219.85 billion. The DMTCL has sought Tk 114.87 billion in additional funds in the 2nd revision proposal.
The DMTCL has also sought one and a half years more time from the current project completion deadline in June 2024.
A DMTCL official said the enhanced consultancy fee is required due to the 1.16-km extension of the route from Motijheel to Kamalapur.
However, the project insiders raised a question that when the consultancy services for construction of the 20.1-km line needed Tk 11.64 billion, how then it required Tk 5.76 billion for construction of only 1.16-km line.
Of the additional fund, Tk 10.78 billion would be required for extension of the 1.16-km line from Motijheel to Kamalapur and the rest Tk 114.87 billion for different components of the existing Uttara-Motijheel line development.
In the revised proposal, the DMTCL has sought Tk 22.93 billion fresh funds for paying Customs Duty and VAT for importing different equipment of the MRT-6 line.
Besides, the company has also sought higher funds for purchasing rolling stock and equipment; institutional development consultancy services; interest payment for foreign loan; civil and station works in the main line; civil and building works; and E&M system.
The DMTCL has kept aside Tk 6.0 billion in additional funds as 'price contingency' in its 2nd revision proposal in addition to Tk 4.08 billion allocations at the current development proposal.
Meanwhile, the government has planned to inaugurate the partial Uttara-Agargaon section of the MRT-6 in December this year.
The Agargaon-Motijheel section of the MRT-6 is likely to be inaugurated by December next year and the extended section to Kamalapur before the project deadline.
According to the DMTCL, it has completed some 81.19 per cent of the total project work until last month (June).
