Posted by Dhaka Nawab Family ...Posted by Dhaka Nawab Family ...

Posted by Dhaka Nawab Family ...
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In the revised proposal, Contech Limited proposed to build a total of 52 kilometres of subway in Dhaka city spending Tk 5,200 crore. "We received the revised proposal and sent it to the Planning Commission for examination," said KMA Rob, the DG of Bangladesh Railway.

The decision in this regard will be taken according to the procedures, he said when asked whether the government will approve the project. The railway DG, however, admitted that the process of establishing a subway in Dhaka has been slowed down.

The revised proposal was submitted following the government's request, as none of the two proposals submitted earlier was found suitable, sources said. Bangladesh Railway had called an international tender in February 2003, for establishing an underground railway system in the capital on build operate and transfer (BOT) basis.


Although, 11 companies bought tender documents only two companies finally participated in the bid. Contech limited's bid was the lowest as it quoted Tk 2,000 crore for building 20 kilometres of subway. The other company Messrs Silvi Agency quoted Tk 6,000 crore for the same job.

In the first proposal, the company proposed to build a single circuit underground rail track.

According to sources, the company also got assurance from donor agencies for a big chunk of money as soft loan and arranged a consortium of local banks for financing the rest of the amount as commercial loan for the project. "If necessary we would also be able to collect money from the stock exchange through floating shares", Masud Reza told the Daily Star while explaining his plan for financing the project.

The company proposed that the underground railway system in the city could be established in three years time. According to the revised proposal the subway would have six routes covering almost every busy area in the city.

The first route would start from Gabtoli and end at Saidabad via IDB Bhaban and Mohakhali with a length of 17 kilometres.


The second route would be from Uttara to Mohakhali via airport and Banani. The third route would be from Pallabi to IDB Bhaban, the fourth would be from Ring Road to Shahabagh Via Satmasjid Road and Jigatola. The fifth route would go from Saidabad to Tejgaon via Kamlapur and the sixth would be from Gulistan to Sadarghat.


Masud Reza said the proposed underground railway system could be established through cut and cover method without disturbing surface traffic on any major route. The fare on the subway would also be less than the fare for surface transport system, he assured.


He said the subway would be 20 feet beneath the surface and it would also not disturb any utility service lines. He does not see any reason for conducting another feasibility study on the subject by the government.


"If the system is established on the basis of BOT the company concerned will do the feasibility study. They will take the project only if it is feasible. Other wise, they will not go for the project. Then why the government should spend money in feasibility study?" he wondered.

He claimed that cut and cover method is the most modern and appropriate for the soil in Dhaka city.

According to experts, underground subway is the only solution to the nagging traffic congestion in the densely populated city.

The huge traffic in the city cannot be handled only through surface transport system, they said.