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India’s Tata Projects, in a joint venture with Japan’s Nishimatsu Construction and Toda Corporation, has secured a $653 million contract to build a 5.2-kilometre underground section of Dhaka Metro Rail.
Tata Projects announced the development on Thursday (November 12), saying the joint venture had been awarded Contract Package CP-06 by Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL).
The package covers the construction of an underground main line, including civil works, architectural finishes, and mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. It also includes three underground stations at Khilkhet, Airport Terminal-3 and Airport, as well as a shaft at the northern end.
The project is being implemented with financial support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Construction is expected to take five years from the start of work.
In a statement, Tata Projects said the contract would strengthen its position in the execution of complex urban infrastructure projects in collaboration with international partners.
Rajiv Menon, the company’s president and chief growth and strategy officer, said the Dhaka project would enhance its presence in the growing metro and rail infrastructure market across Asia and other emerging regions.
Part of MRT Line-1
The CP-06 contract is part of the country’s first underground metro rail project, MRT Line-1, being implemented by DMTCL with joint financing from the Bangladesh government and JICA.
Earlier this month, the government signed contracts for four major packages covering underground tunnels, stations, track works, electrical facilities, signalling and telecommunications systems.
Another major underground section, under CP-04, will cover 4.447 kilometres from the northern end of Rampura underground station to Notun Bazar station. Together, CP-04 and CP-06 will account for 9.629 kilometres of underground route.
The remaining packages cover track installation, including rails and turnouts, as well as signalling, telecommunications, platform screen doors and an enterprise resource management system.
MRT Line-1 will connect Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and its Terminal-3 with Khilkhet, Nadda, Notun Bazar, Badda, Aftabnagar, Rampura, Malibagh, Rajarbagh and Kamalapur.
The government approved three major metro rail projects in September, involving an estimated Tk2.5 lakh crore. The plans include MRT Line-1 and the northern and southern routes of MRT Line-5, aimed at expanding Dhaka’s mass transit network and improving connectivity across the capital.