The cost of the Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Project (MRT line-6) is likely to go up by Tk 15.09 billion to Tk 234.94 billion, as its implementing agency has recently sought additional funds, officials said on Friday.
The state-run Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) has sought the extra funds for acquisition of more land for the MRT-6 project as well as for the purpose of imparting training to the officials concerned, they added.
Currently, the government has kept aside Tk 6.01 billion funds for land acquisition and training purposes in the ongoing Tk 219.85-billion project.
The DMTCL has sent a letter to the Planning Commission (PC), seeking additional Tk 15 billion for land acquisition and Tk 90 million for training of the officials concerned.
The PC has asked the DMTCL to provide details on requirement of the extra funds.
An official of the DMTCL said they have taken the decision to develop Uttara centre metro station as a transport-oriented development hub as well as to set up a station plaza there.
So, the company needs more 32.277 acres (97.64 bighas) of land in the station area, he also said.
"We've applied to the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) for the land at Uttara 3rd phase. The entity has allocated us the land. Now we need extra Tk 15 billion for payment of land price to their owners."
"Besides, the DMTCL needs to train-up its workforce for operation of the metro-rail. But the current allocation of Tk 10 million is very inadequate. So, we have sought additional Tk 90 million for training purpose," said the official.
Bangladesh is entering into a new era of public transportation system with the first metro-rail line-6. So, adequate manpower should be developed for its smooth operation and maintenance, he added.
The DMTCL is now constructing the 20.1-km metro-rail line-6 from Uttara 3rd phase to Motijheel via Farmgate in the capital.
According to a government report, the DMTCL has implemented 30.05 per cent of the project until June. The company has completed some 45.60 per cent of the total work at Uttara-Agargaon part.
The government has set a new target of inaugurating the country's first metro-rail from Uttara to Motijheel in December 2021 on the occasion of 50th anniversary of independence.
The MRT-6 project was approved in July 2012, and was planned to be implemented with the financial support of Japan. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is providing loan amounting to nearly US$ 2.10 billion for it.
The government has attached the highest priority to the project by enlisting it in the list of "fast-track" projects.
In the first phase, the DMTCL started work in the middle of 2017 to build an 11.29-km MRT line between Uttara and Agargaon under the CP-3 and the CP-4 packages with an aim of completing its construction by December 2019.
The contractor of the CP-5 package - Tekkon-AML-Abenikko JV - has completed only 7.5 per cent of the physical work until last month.
Under the CP-6 package, SMCC-ITD JV has completed the work of 124 pilling, out of 692, between Kawran Bazar and Motijheel until last month.
According to the deals, the contractors of the CP-5 and the CP-6 are supposed to complete their work by December 2020.
The CP-1 package was completed in January 2018, as the contractor - Tokyu Construction Co Ltd - finished land development for the metro-rail depot in Uttara.
Under the CP-2, the contractor - ITD-Sino-hydro JV - has completed 30 per cent of the physical work of civil and building construction in the Uttara depot area.
Besides, under the CP-8 package, Japanese Kawasaki-Mitsubishi Consortium has completed nearly 14 per cent work of producing railway coaches in Japan.
Under the CP-7 package, Marubini-Larson and Turbo JV has completed 8.0 per cent work of the electrical and mechanical system until April.
