Two much-talked about projects of around Tk24,040 crore - Metrorail and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) - of the present government are likely to start its physical work from today (Sunday).
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the construction work of the two projects at an opening ceremony organized at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) on Sunday.
Earlier, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, in last week, said at a press briefing that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate Metrorail and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) projects on June 26.
"PM will inaugurate construction work of BRT project from Shahjalal International Airport to Gazipur terminal which will cost Tk 2,040 crore," said the Minister.
He also said there will be 25 stations, 6 flyovers, 4.50km elevated BRT lane from Uttara to Tongi and 16km flat grade on the route. Besides, 18-metre long 100 articulated buses will run on the route. There'll be a system of electronic smart card for colleting bus fare.
"The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and French Development Agency and Global Environment Facility Fund are financing the project alongside the government. After completion of preparatory works, the government is going to start implementation work as well. The BRT work is likely to be completed by 2018," Quader said.
He also said the preparatory work for metro rail project has already been completed. Now it is also heading towards implementation.
"The 20-km metro rail project will be implemented with financial assistance from JICA. JICA will provide Tk 16,600 crore of the total cost of Tk 22,000 crore," said the Minister.
Metrorail: Preparations for the Metrorail project were underway and work would now begin. Construction of the depots had already started.
Metrorail's Route-6, from Uttara to Motijheel's Shapla Chattar, will be elevated all the way. The route will have six stations while trains would carry 60,000 passengers both ways every hour.
In the first phase, the trains will go up to Agargaon in 2019 while the extension to Motijheel will be completed by 2020.
Bids have been invited for six of the eight project packages and the deal for one has already been finalised.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is providing Tk 16,595 crore of the Tk 22,000 crore project covering a distance of 20km.
The project will also have two other routes which would be implemented later gradually. Route-1 will run from Gazipur to Keraniganj's Jhilmil project while Route-5 has been finalised to connect the metropolis from east to west. The 35-km track will lie between Bhulta in Narayanganj to Gabtoli.
The first phase of the construction will extend from the airport to Kamalapur and from Khilkhet to Purbachal. Ten kilometers of this 27-km track will be underground.
Under the plan for Route-5, 35-km track will lie between Bhulta in Narayanganj to Gabtoli. The primary phase, comprising 17-km from Bhatara to Gabtoli-Hemayetpur, will include six kilometres of underground tracks.
JICA has already started the feasibility studies for Route-1 and 5, said the minister.
BRT: The Bus Rapid Transit was intended to make travel between central Dhaka and Uttara and Tongi easy. The commuters will be able to avail fast, cheap, and environment-friendly travel by the BRT, while the capital would be freed of gridlocks.
Obaidul said around 25,000 people would be able to commute hourly once the transit was up and running. Buses would leave the stations every three minutes.
"There will be 25 stations on the 20.5-km BRT route from the Gazipur terminal to the airport. Six flyovers will also be built," he added.
Elaborating on the government's plan, Obaidul said 4.5km - Uttara to Tongi - of the total route length would be an elevated lane. The remaining 16km will be on the ground. Altogether 100 articulated buses will run on this route. Commuters will use electronic smart cards to pay fares.
The Minister said the government, Asian Development Bank, French Development Agency and Global Environmental Facility Fund are jointly funding the Tk 20.4 billion project.