ADB proposes study on numerous Dhaka metro lines

[bluesky]

08 Jan 2017, 11:44:34

ADB proposes study on numerous Dhaka metros
Aim is to ameliorate agonising traffic congestion
Munima Sultana
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has proposed to conduct study on numerous metro rails along different corridors of Dhaka city that reels from perennial traffic chaos.

Officials said the needs study will be based on the findings in revised strategic transport plan (RSTP), a 20-year transport plan for the capital.

They said the Manila-based lending agency showed its interest in studying the RSTP as part of its US$ 1.0 billion investment plan in establishing Dhaka's metro-rail system.

Approved in August last year, the RSTP envisages the setting up of five metro rails known as mass rapid transit (MRT) and two bus-based systems known as bus rapid transit (BRT) lines in the city to ensure uninterrupted movement of myriad passengers in a corridor every hour.

So far, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has conducted studies on establishing MRTs in the city as it played the pivotal role in formulating the RSTP. Under JICA support, the MRT line 06 is now under implementation and feasibility studies on MRT 01 and 05 are on stream.

The ADB has so far played a significant role in developing Gazipur-Airport BRT line on which field-level work started recently.

Sources said Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA), which is the guardian of RSTP, had prepared a technical project involving Tk 161 million to conduct ADB's study. It is going to the Planning Commission this week.

The study will start this year and complete in 2019.

It is learnt that the ADB-supported study would mainly look into the possibility of developing western part of the MRT-05 and extension of MRT-06.

JICA is now implementing the MRT-06 from Uttara to Motijheel and is likely to develop the eastern part of the MRT-05 after completing its study started in 2015.

The MRT-6, which was proposed in the STP first in 2005, has faced a blow on its route due to construction of the Mayor Hanif flyover. As the flyover intercepted the MRT-6 termination points, the JICA consultants diverted the route towards Bangladesh Bank in Motijheel on recommendation from the government in 2010.

Since then, experts with the help of the JICA consultants had tried to take the MRT-06 lines beside the Bangladesh Bank and set up last station either at Kamalapur station or Jatrabari but were yet to make an acceptable solution for lack of spaces.

Official sources said the ADB's technical project has been prepared to ensure coordination between the JICA and ADB studies and find the solution.

"We are likely to offer the ADB to invest in the western part of the MRT-05 and extension of the MRT-06 under the bank's Multi-tranche Financing Facility as these two services remain half-hearted," said one official.

According to the RSTP, the 35-kilometre MRT-05 from Gabtoli to Vatara through Mirpur, Cantonment, Banani and Notunbazar has been proposed to be set up in two phases. Cost of the entire route, if done in elevated way, is estimated at Tk 138 billion and in mixed way Tk 155 billion.

The cost of the MRT-06 is estimated US$ 2.7 billion of which more than 60 per cent is being provided by JICA.

 

[rome333]

BD govts same old poor implentation. Look how behind the schedule current projects are!

 

[bluesky]

BD govts same old poor implentation. Look how behind the schedule current projects are!

Top govt people in BD love to wait for directives from the Divine power to start and finish a project . Preparing an exact schedule and to organize accordingly until the completion of a project are not something we can really do. So, there is little chance for us to move away from the sufferings by the long delays. However, it is better late than never.

 

[TopCat]

BD govts same old poor implentation. Look ho as w behind the schedule current projects are!

How many of our people ever worked on a metro before?
Things are not as simple as we like them to be.

 

[rome333]

How many of our people ever worked on a metro before?
Things are not as simple as we like them to be.

Look at our Flyover projects. We already have implemented a few but still struggling with the same old Planning, Implementation, co-ordination problems. The thing is Leassons have not been learned regardless of experiences we got and the reason being Accountability at each step being very low.

 

[bluesky]

Look at our Flyover projects. We already have implemented a few but still struggling with the same old Planning, Implementation, co-ordination problems. The thing is Leassons have not been learned regardless of experiences we got and the reason being Accountability at each step being very low.

Actually, these jobs are like over sized coats which do not fit with our style of mentality. It is very difficult to proceed according to the schedule if it is not based on experience such as the knowledge of number of days required to do a work event. Engineers in the design and construction are supposed to follow the CPM (Critical Path Method) procedure for scheduling that shows an exact progress of a project at a given time.

The entire work is divided into many segments on the Schedule. The segments are called 'events'. There are also progress Milestones that are decided out in the very beginning by what total % (say 20%, 40%, 50% etc.) of progress is to be accomplished by a certain date. But, the way construction works are conducted in BD, I have reasons to suspect if the engineers practice the CPM at all. This method is a must for the heavy and complicated construction works with many different work items, which are termed 'events' by the engineers.

 

[bangali nazi]

its not easy to implement a project in dhaka city its conjusted and unplaned city and no space at all so projects take time

 

[bluesky]

its not easy to implement a project in dhaka city its conjusted and unplaned city and no space at all so projects take time

You are correct to say that construction in Dhaka is delayed due to traffic congestion and other bottlenecks. But, my point is since all these factors are known to the authorities concerned, therefore, these should be taken into consideration when a "Conceptual simple Schedule" or an overall schedule is prepared that shows the start and end dates of a project.

This overall schedule is little different from the day-to-day construction schedule. It is not difficult to set a correct completion date and different Milestone dates in the Schedule after duly considering the bottlenecks.

 

[rome333]

Look at Satrasta-Mogbazar flyover where they are changing the plan and making alternation with more fund. Look at Dhaka-Chittagong, Dhaka-Mymansing highway. There are no provision for service road. Now they are goona make it means more money. They spend a lot of time and money for feasibility and design of each project mostly by experienced foreign companies. Again again we see large dificiency for such projects. Dhaka-Chittagong fourlane was inagurated without even completing major over passes! I think they to some extent intentionally create faluty plan so that more money can be asked for at later stage.