Indian company secures metro rail work worth thousands of crores taka
File photo.
India's infrastructure construction company Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has secured contracts for the design and construction of two important construction packages of Dhaka's Metro Rail Line-1 project. In a joint venture with Japan's Sumitomo Corporation, the company will carry out track construction, power supply, signaling, telecommunications, and platform screen door installation.
According to L&T's announcement, the two contracts are being considered among their large-scale projects. By the company's estimate, the work is valued at over 5,000 crore Indian rupees, which is more than 6,500 crore taka in Bangladeshi currency.
In a report published on October 27 by Indian media outlet Business Standard, it was said that the company's transportation business division secured these two contracts under Line-1 of the Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project, Bangladesh's first underground metro rail project.
Under the contracts, L&T and Sumitomo Corporation will design, procure equipment for, install, test, and commission track construction across the entire rail line, power supply and distribution systems, traction substations, overhead catenary systems, and related electrical infrastructure. Additionally, important systems such as signaling, telecommunications, and platform screen doors are also within the scope of the contracts.
Under the Dhaka Metro Rail Line-1 project, financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), a modern public transport system approximately 31 kilometers long will be developed. The project has two routes. These include the Airport Route extending from Kamalapur to the Airport, and the Purbachal Route extending from New Bazar to Purbachal Terminal. The entire project plans for 19 stations and a depot at Pitlganj.
Previously, L&T had carried out the integrated railway system work for Line-6, Bangladesh's first metro rail corridor. The company completed that work. Line-6 is currently operating commercially.
Ramkumar S. Senior Executive Vice President and Head of L&T's Transportation Infrastructure Division, said that the experience of completing the electrical and mechanical systems work of Dhaka Metro Rail Line-6 on schedule and maintaining quality will be applied to the Line-1 project as well. He also mentioned that the company has the capability to coordinate with equipment manufacturers and other stakeholders in integrating and implementing multiple technological systems. He noted that the company recently also secured work on the Jakarta Metro in Indonesia, which is currently under implementation.
He stated that L&T is well-positioned to leverage its experience in achieving seamless integration and implementation of multiple systems through close coordination with various original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and relevant stakeholders.
It is expected that once the construction and installation of the important systems of Line-1 are completed, it will play an important role in making the capital's public transport system more modern and effective.
